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How most likely is an Air Canada strike and what effect would it have?

Air Canada and its pilots are locked in a standoff over a new labor agreement and face a deadline by Sunday to reach a deal that would avert strike action.

WHERE DO THE TALKS STAND?

If the 2 celebrations do not reach an agreement by the end of Saturday, Sept. 14, they will both have the choice to problem either a strike or lockout notice, which would trigger Air Canada's three-day plan to wind down operations.

The airline company would gradually cancel flights over three days, with a complete shutdown as early as 00:01 EDT (0401. GMT) on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

On Thursday, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau stated the. airline company was still dedicated to reaching an offer but implicated the. pilots' union of making extreme wage demands.

The union has stated a strike could be avoided if Air Canada. works out a reasonable contract.

WHAT EFFECT WOULD A STRIKE HAVE?

Air Canada and its inexpensive Air Canada Rouge subsidiary. together run almost 670 flights per day, and a shutdown. might impact 110,000 passengers daily along with freight. carriage.

It is Canada's largest airline company, flying to more than 180. airports worldwide. The strike will likewise likely result in. less flights for American tourists as the airline flies. guests from U.S. cities to Europe and Asia through its. Canadian hubs.

In a research note, Desjardins economic experts estimated a. two-week pilot strike might result in a loss of around C$ 1.4. billion ($ 1.03 billion) to Canada's real GDP in September,. implying everyday losses of roughly C$ 98 million.

A spokesperson for Air Canada said once the airline starts. executing its wind-down strategy, it would trigger days and weeks. of disturbances.

Air Canada estimates it can take close to eight hours for. its maintenance group to have each airplane all set for a return to. service. That indicates it will take four to 5 days to bring all. aircraft back into service.

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES INVOLVED THE DISPUTE?

Air Canada's 5,400 pilots are demanding wage rates that. would narrow the pay space with their equivalents at significant U.S. providers such as United Airlines.

Pilots at U.S. airline companies have negotiated substantial pay raises in. brand-new contracts in the previous two years, helped by a travel boom and. staffing shortages. United's brand-new pilot contract, for instance,. consisted of pay boosts of about 42%.

As a result, some United pilots now earn 92% more than their. equivalents at Air Canada, according to information from the Air Line. Pilots Association, which represents the provider's pilots. In. 2013, the pay space was simply 3%.

The association states Air Canada pilots are working under pay. rates and quality-of-life arrangements negotiated in 2014.

Rousseau said Air Canada had used a wage increase of more. than 30%, as well as improved pension and health advantages in the. new agreement.

WILL THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENE?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on Friday the federal government. would not intervene and planned instead to pressure both sides. to avoid a strike.

On Thursday, Air Canada took the unusual action of saying the. federal government must be all set to step in to avoid a. strike. While Ottawa has actually intervened several times in labor. disputes over the last few decades, it just did so after. interruptions have begun, not previously.

Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has broad powers to. deal with conflicts and last month stepped in within 24 hr to end. an interruption at the two largest rail business, Canadian Pacific. Kansas City and Canadian National Railway.

That relocation was denounced by unions and slammed by the. federal New Democratic Celebration, which has assisted keep Canada's. minority Liberal government in power through a deal offering. automated support. Previously this month NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. withdrew that support.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY FLIGHT IS CANCELED?

If Air Canada cancels a flight due to the fact that of a strike by its. own workers, the airline must provide to rebook guests complimentary. of charge on the next available flight offered by any provider,. or use a refund and transportation to return passengers to. their point of origin.

Air Canada has actually offered flexible travel waivers for. guests set up to fly Sept. 15-23. The airline has stated it. is likewise dealing with other carriers to secure seats for. clients to alleviate the effect of its flight cancellations.

However, it advised clients to accept refunds or future. travel credit as seats on other airline companies are expected to be. limited.

Under Canada's airline company passenger security guidelines,. consumers will not be entitled to cash payment for expenditures. sustained as an outcome of delayed or canceled flights due to labor. disruption if they are flying within Canada. Travelers. traveling internationally may be entitled to payment.

(source: Reuters)