Air Canada prepares to wind down operations ahead of ‘increasingly likely’ labour disruption

Air Canada says it is preparing to wind down operations ahead of an “increasingly likely” strike or lockout as contract talks with its pilots union yield no signs of a deal. The Montreal-based carrier and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents 5,200 pilots at Air Canada and Rouge, have been in negotiations for more than a year. The two sides are in a legal strike or lockout position on Wednesday, Sept. 18, provided they issue 72 hours’ notice. Air Canada said on Monday such a notice will trigger its three-day plan to progressively suspend all flights by Sept. 18, and that the two sides are “far apart” at the bargaining table. Aircraft groundings for some foreign travel and sun destinations will begin as early as Sept. 13, to avoid leaving customers, crew and planes stranded, the airline said. A shutdown would affect more than 110,000 passengers a day on 670 domestic and international flights. The union has said it is seeking wage increases that will bring its members in line with their North American counterparts, better retirement benefits and quality-of-life improvements. Charlene Hudy, the Air Canada pilots’ union leader, said the airline has been making record profits while expecting pilots to accept below-market wages. “Air Canada should stop threatening to disrupt air travel and come to the bargaining table with serious proposals to keep the flagship Canadian carrier competitive in the global aviation market,” Ms. Hudy said in a statement on Monday. The two sides are in talks this week in Toronto.<br/>