Air Canada pilots may strike this fall amid ongoing negotiations

Air Canada pilots are gearing up for a potential strike this fall as negotiations with the airline remain unresolved. The pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), have been in discussions since June 2023, focusing on critical issues such as compensation, retirement benefits, and working conditions. 

The union has highlighted a significant wage gap compared to U.S. pilots, with some Canadian pilots earning substantially less for similar work. As negotiations reached an impasse, a strike vote is currently underway, closing on August 22. If the vote supports a strike, pilots could legally walk off the job as early as September 17, following a 21-day cooling-off period that begins after August 26.

Air Canada asserts it is making progress in negotiations and aims to finalize a deal soon. However, the union’s chair, Charlene Hudy, expressed frustration over management’s lack of responsiveness to pilots’ needs, emphasizing the urgency for a fair agreement to prevent disruptions in operations.

Air Canada Pilot Wages Compared to Other Countries

Air Canada pilots earn significantly less than their American counterparts, despite flying the same aircraft, routes and airspace. Some key points:

Air Canada pilots can make anywhere from $40,000 for a new hire up to over $200,000 for an experienced captain.

However, a decade ago Air Canada and United Airlines pilot salaries were nearly equal. Today, American pilots earn twice as much as Canadian pilots.

The highest paying countries for pilots surveyed by Yahoo! Finance are Switzerland ($172,610 average), Luxembourg ($146,809), and the United States ($132,569).

Other top paying countries include Denmark ($127,515), Belgium ($122,930), Canada, Germany, Australia, and Norway.

Florida Flyers reports the Middle East (Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia) as the highest paying region, with average salaries between $200,000-$300,000.

The U.S. has some of the highest paying individual airlines, with pilots at Hawaiian, Southwest, United, American and Delta earning over $200,000 on average.

So in summary, while Air Canada pilots earn a good living, their wages lag significantly behind pilots in the U.S. and Middle East in particular. This has led to growing frustration and a willingness to strike among Air Canada pilots if pay does not improve.