12/09/2025
Some useful information for you related to the Air Transat strike:
PSA: If you’re flying with Air Transat over the next few days or weeks, here’s what you need to know. (Source: The Star, Dec 9)
Will my flight be cancelled?
It depends when it is scheduled for.
Air Transat says it is gradually shutting down its operations in the days leading up to Wednesday, the earliest the strike could begin, and any travel between Sunday and Dec. 12 could be affected. If the strike runs longer, any travel after that will be affected, too.
The airline recommends checking your flight status on its website before heading to the airport.
How will I know if my flight is cancelled?
Air Transat will contact you by email if your flight is cancelled. Make sure the airline has your up-to-date contact info.
You can also stay updated by checking your flight status on the Air Transat website.
What am I entitled to if my flight is cancelled?
Air Transat must offer you either a rebooking or a refund, according to an article published today in The Star.
If you choose a rebooking, the airline must rebook you on the next available flight from any carrier free of charge, and may also be on the hook for meals, overnight accommodation and compensation for your inconvenience, depending on if the flight was cancelled before or after the strike began.
If you choose a refund, the airline must refund your flight within 30 days and offer transportation back to your point of origin, if you aren’t already there, and travel no longer serves any purpose because of the cancellation.
What if I’m stranded at a destination?
Following federal regulations, Air Transat says it will offer customers a new ticket on the next available flight within 48 hours of the original departure time, or a refund for any unused flights.
Following federal regulations, Air Transat says it will offer customers a new ticket on the next available flight within 48 hours of the original departure time, or a refund for any unused flights.
Steve Russell/Toronto Star
Can I cancel my booking?
If you’re worried about travel being disrupted, Air Transat is now letting you cancel any booking up to Dec. 12 for a credit on your file that expires after 12 months using a form available on its website. Any cancellations after Dec. 12 will follow the original terms on your ticket.
What if my flight is part of a package?
If you’ve booked a package with Transat, the airline says it will cover any additional costs occurred for extended stays caused by the pending strike.
If the trip hasn’t started, Air Transat says it will refund the package if a strike happens, but will not reimburse you for any third-party purchases made for the trip, like an excursion.
How long will cancellations last?
It’s impossible to say. When Air Canada flight attendants went on strike in August, the strike ended with a tentative deal three days later — but not before more than 500,000 travellers had their flights cancelled. Air Canada warned it would take up to 10 days for regular service to re
In June 2024, WestJet plane mechanics went on strike for 29 hours over the Canada Day long weekend. It forced the airline to cancel more than 1,050 flights, affecting at least 170,000 passengers. A week later, the airline was still recovering from the strike.
Even if the strike is short — or doesn’t happen at all — Air Transat will likely still be experiencing delays and disruptions for at least several days afterwards.
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Air Transat pilots had issued 72-hour strike notice, causing some flight suspensions by Monday in Toronto.
Steve Russell/Toronto Star
What is the strike about?
The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents 750 Air Transat Pilots, says it is advocating for job security and improved working conditions, compensation and quality of life. The union voted 99 per cent in favour of a strike and issued a three-day strike notice Sunday.
“We are unified, resolute, and have earned a contract that reflects today’s industry standards, not the standards from 2015,” union representative Bradley Small said in a statement last week.
The airline’s operating company, Transat AT, has struggled in recent years to turn a profit and overcome its sizable debt, although it made a deal earlier this year to reduce its debt by more than half to $334 million. It is still dealing with customers willing to spend less and an engine recall that has grounded four of its 43 planes.
Can the government intervene to end the strike?
When asked last week, Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu did not say if the government would intervene to avoid disruptions during the holidays. Federal mediators are at the table with negotiators, Hajdu said.
“These are all hypothetical questions,” she said. “What I know is, the best deals are the ones that the parties arrive at together.”
