Air Canada pilots press for higher pay following Delta deal

Pilots at Air Canada are calling for higher pay as salary talks loom and as recent gains secured by pilots at Delta Air Lines set the tone for future negotiations, union representatives tell Reuters.

Last Thursday (March 2), Delta pilots landed a new contract that delivers a 34 per cent per cent pay hike over four years.

The increase is reportedly putting pressure on other U.S. carriers to make similar moves, and the effect is also being felt north of the border at Canada’s flag carrier.

According to the ACPA, which represents about 4,500 pilots, Air Canada pilots have received a two per cent wage increase per year, since 2014.

But contract negotiations could begin as early as this year, or in 2024, the union told Reuters.

The discussion come as airlines in North America recruit thousands of pilots to meet the high demand for air travel following the COVID-19 shutdown.

Air Canada, which is anticipating a return to 2019 capacity levels next year, has not publicly commented on the matter.

Salary increases are also on the discussion table for pilots at WestJet.

Sunwing pilots, meanwhile, secured a 23 per cent wage hike earlier this year and another 2.5 per cent raise for next January as part of an existing four-year agreement, according to Unifor.

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