(Montreal) Air Canada is offering passengers who booked flights during the period of a possible pilot strike next month greater flexibility to change their bookings.
The airline says progress has been made in its negotiations and it hopes to reach an agreement, but it still faces the possibility of a strike by its 5,400 pilots as early as September 17.
The International Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has not set a date for a work stoppage, but pilots have voted overwhelmingly to strike if no agreement on a new contract can be reached.
Under the airline’s policy, customers with tickets for travel between September 15 and 23 can change their booking to any other Air Canada flight with the same origin and destination until November 30 at no additional cost. Customers who wish to cancel and change their booking after that date will have their change fee waived, but will be required to pay any difference in fare.
Travelers who made reservations during the affected period can also cancel their flight and receive a credit for future travel.
Customers with refundable tickets will be able to get their tickets refunded, but Air Canada says customers with non-refundable tickets will not be able to get their tickets refunded as flights are expected to operate as normal.
The policy applies to all flights operated by Air Canada, including Air Canada Mainline flights, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz or PAL Airlines and Air Canada Vacations.