Jazz pilots agree to Air Canada Express deal

Pilots at Canada’s Jazz Aviation have approved a deal that will allow the company to become the exclusive operator of Air Canada Express flights. The approval from the pilots, represented by union Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), is the last piece of an agreement under which Air Canada will consolidate all its region-aircraft operations under one regional partner – Jazz. Air Canada said last week it intends to transfer the operation of Sky Regional Airlines’ 25 Embraer 175s to Jazz. That leaves Sky Regional without any aircraft, and the company confirmed last week it intends to cease operations on 31 March. “A long-term goal of Jazz pilots has been to reach consecutive agreements with airline management to facilitate the consolidation of Air Canada Express flying at Jazz,” says Claude Braglia, chairman of the Jazz chapter of ALPA, on 15 March. “Jazz pilots are proud to become the sole operator of Air Canada Express, and we are prepared to support Air Canada’s recovery through the pandemic and into the future.” The agreement calls for Sky Regional pilots to be offered jobs at Jazz.<br/>