A potential Air Transat strike has passengers scrambling. Here’s what to know if you’re flying

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Air Transat signs at the Montreal Airport on Monday. Customers are bracing for costly travel disruptions after pilots gave strike notice in the latest labour disruption to hit Canada’s airline sector.Andrej Ivanov/The Globe and Mail

Juliana Arzayus Serna and her boyfriend spent nearly a year saving for their trip to Cartagena on Saturday. Now, they’re among thousands of Air Transat passengers possibly on the hook for hotels and a flurry of expenses as a pilots’ strike notice upends travel plans ahead of the busy holiday season.

The union representing 750 Air Transat pilots could strike as early as Wednesday after failing to reach a new collective agreement with the Montreal-based carrier in bargaining that began last winter.

The airline said it would begin suspending some services on Monday, with a complete shutdown by Tuesday. But as of Monday evening, no flights had been cancelled and all scheduled flights were still planned to operate, Air Transat spokesperson Alex-Anne Carrier said.

“We still believe it is possible to reach an agreement before December 10,” Ms. Carrier added.

Transat, pilots’ union continue talks as airline set to begin cancelling flights

If the strike happens, it would be the second labour dispute to upend travel for Canadians in just the past six months.

December was set to be among Air Transat’s busiest travel months. Around 2,150 flights were scheduled to operate with about 526,900 seats, according to data provided to The Globe and Mail by aviation data company Cirium.

“They’re saying ‘Oh, you can rebook your vacations’ – but it’s not that simple,” said Ms. Serna. “My boyfriend already set up his vacation days, he cannot just reschedule them. It affects everything.”

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Juliana Arzayus Serna she’s waiting for news about her Saturday flight to Cartagena with Air Transat.EDUARDO LIMA/The Globe and Mail

It wasn’t just their own vacations derailed. Ms. Serna and her partner booked flights for his mom as well, spending a total of about $3,000 on airfare and another $2,000 on non-refundable Airbnbs, excursions and connecting flights.

“I purchased a one-way ticket because after Cartagena I will be traveling to another city in Colombia to be with my family, whom I haven’t seen in three years,” Ms. Serna said.

When the strike was announced, the couple tried to remain optimistic. But on Sunday, the airline announced it would begin a “gradual and orderly shutdown” of its operations over the next three days.

So far, the airline has only replied with generic assurances. At one point, she said an Air Transat representative also told her that any refunds depend on ticket conditions – something Ms. Serna pushed back on, citing her passenger rights.

What rights do passengers have in Canada?

Under Canada’s air passenger protection rules, if a flight is cancelled because of a strike, the airline’s first obligation is to rebook the passenger on another flight within 48 hours. That rebooked flight can be one that operates through the airline’s own carrier, or an airline with which it has a commercial agreement.

If rebooking under this option is not possible, the airline must, at the passenger’s choice, either refund the ticket or rebook the passenger on a flight with any other airline – including a competitor.

If the airline says a rebooking is impossible and only offers a refund, the passenger would be within their rights to decline the refund, purchase a new ticket from another airline, then request reimbursement. In the case of an airline strike, Canadian regulations generally don’t require carriers to pay out compensation – an additional payment for inconvenience above and beyond any refunds or rebookings.

What if I’m flying from Europe?

Things work differently across the pond.

Air Transat had roughly 184 scheduled flights for December with 47,701 seats operating from Europe, according to Cirium, and passengers on these flights have an extra set of protections.

In the EU and Britain, air passenger rights are governed by the EC261 and UK261 rules.

Under EC261, strikes by airline staff are considered within the airline’s control. This means Air Transat would also have to pay compensation – between €250 and €600 ($402 to $966) – to passengers flying from or within Europe.

Passengers are also owed a rebooking or a full refund of the unused portion of their ticket and often meals, incidentals and overnight stays if necessary.

What should I do if I’m flying Air Transat soon?

Here’s the crux: Air Transat hasn’t actually cancelled many of its flights, even as the strike deadline looms, leaving many passengers, including Ms. Serna, in limbo.

According to the airline’s website, it’s currently allowing passengers travelling within the next five days to change or postpone their travels at no additional cost by filling in an online form. Customers are told they would get a credit on their file, valid for 12 months.

If a passenger pre-emptively cancels their own flight, it can get airlines off the hook as rules generally do not require the carrier to provide a refund or alternate travel.

“For passengers whose flights have not been cancelled yet – we recommend staying put, and waiting until Air Transat cancels their flight,” said Gabor Lukacs, president of Air Passenger Rights, an advocacy group.

Passengers who previously spoke with The Globe said they avoided the scramble of limited seats and surge pricing once an airline finally cancelled their flight by pre-emptively booking a refundable fare on another carrier. If their original flight was cancelled, they used the backup ticket and sought reimbursement.

Airline strikes becoming more frequent in Canada

Canada has seen a rising number of airline strikes in the last decade, with two in the last six months alone. In August, a strike by Air Canada flight attendants disrupted around 3,290 flights in the middle of the busy summer travel season, leaving more than half a million passengers stranded at home or abroad.

Government statistics show that the entire transportation sector in Canada experienced 62 work stoppages in 2023 and 2024 alone, involving close to 20,000 workers.

Are you affected by the Air Transat strike?

The Montreal-based airline and the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents its 750 pilots, have failed to reach a new collective agreement in talks that began last winter. Our reporters want to hear from passengers that have had their plans affected by the strike. Have you had to switch your flights or change your travel schedule? How much has it cost you so far? Share your story in the box below.