Fair Agreements for Canadian Pilots

The current collective agreement expired on Dec. 31, 2025, and the union began negotiating with the employer. Negotiations have reached an impasse, and the Flair Master Executive Council (MEC) of the ALPA filed for help from the Canadian government on Monday (April 20).

Will Flair Airlines' pilots go on strike?

Hundreds of Vancouver flights were cancelled during strikes with other airlines, and, in some cases, even looming strike deadlines warranted mass disruptions. For instance, Air Canada's pilots never took job action, reaching a deal at the 11th hour, but the airline preemptively cancelled flights.

Conciliation from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is the traditional next step in the bargaining process that all unions must take on the road to possible labour strikes in Canada. Still, it does not mean a job action will occur.

Conciliation provides clear timelines during the bargaining process, with an officer appointed to help the parties reach an agreement after they fail to do so independently. This process may last up to 60 days, followed by a mandatory 21-day cooling-off period.

The union is only in a legal position to strike after the cooling-off period is over. It must also issue a 72-hour notice under the Canada Labour Code.

"We've been very clear with our priorities with [Flair Airlines], and progress is stalled. So we're hoping a conciliation officer can come in and get things moving," Flair MEC chair First Officer Aimee Wintle told Vancouver Is Awesome in an interview Wednesday.

"Our goal is still...it's not to go on strike. Our goal is to reach a deal. We're still waiting for a conciliation officer to be appointed to us."

Flair Airlines provides comment on impasse with the union

Flair Airlines confirmed with Vancouver Is Awesome that ALPA requested conciliation under the Canada Labour Code, but underscored that it "is a normal step in the bargaining process."

The airline added that it will continue "to work toward a fair agreement," and values "the role our pilots play every day in our operation."

"There is no impact on our schedule, and customers can continue to travel as planned."

Why do the pilots want significant changes to their contract?

After WestJet's pilots renegotiated their contract in 2023 and Air Canada's in 2024, the employees flying Canada's low-cost carrier say it's time for their employer to create a fair contract with them.

After eight months of negotiations, the union's focus remains "securing a fair agreement that advances quality of life, compensates pilots properly, strengthens pensions, and ensures Flair is a place where pilots can build long, sustainable careers," Wintle outlined in a press release Wednesday.

In essence, the union is asking for a fair contract that will bring the pilots' working conditions up to industry standards, Wintle told Vancouver Is Awesome.

"We fly the same planes on the same routes as our peers at larger airlines, such as Air Canada and WestJet, so we expect a contract that reflects this. Our pilots care about quality of life, and they've sacrificed that quality of life to help Flair grow. Now, it's time for that quality of life to be returned," she said in an earlier interview last September.

In terms of pay, Flair's pilots have fallen behind Canada's other large airlines, but it isn't the union's only concern, although it is important.

"Pay matters, but it's not the whole picture. Our pilots really want to build a future here at Flair, which means they need a pension that gives them some long-term stability, and they need scheduling rules so they can plan their lives and their families' lives," Wintle said Wednesday.

Other airlines have protections for scheduling conflicts for pilots on days off, such as not forcing them to work or offering better compensation.

Other significant issues with the current contract include career progression, collaboration and health-care benefits.

"It's important to remember that being able to attract and retain pilots is really critical to an airline's success. We're losing skilled pilots right now, and we need a contract that gives people a reason to stay."