MONTREAL — Air Canada pilots have given a green light to a tentative agreement with the airline, dashing fears of a future strike and overcoming concerns about entry-level pay and quality-of-life provisions.
The Air Line Pilots Association said Thursday its members voted 67 per cent in favour of the deal, allowing management and passengers to breathe easier.
The agreement grants the carrier’s roughly 5,400 pilots a cumulative wage hike of nearly 42 per cent over four years.
The increase outstrips major gains won last year by pilots at the three biggest U.S. airlines, where pay bumps ranged between 34 and 40 per cent — though they started from a higher baseline.
Despite the big top-line figure, the fact that roughly one-third of Air Canada pilots voted to reject the agreement reveals ongoing divides over issues such as scheduling, quality of life and a large pay gap between newer employees and more experienced flight crews.
The head…
