Air Transat Flight Attendants Secure Industry-Leading Pay Increase in New Contract Agreement

Air Transat’s 2,100 flight attendants have achieved a milestone in the aviation industry with a groundbreaking collective agreement that positions them as the highest compensated personnel in Canada. Following informative sessions held from February 19 to 22, the flight attendants cast their ballots, with a majority of 62.7% in favor of embracing the recommendations put forth by federal mediators.

This new contractual pact entails a remarkable total compound salary elevation spanning five years, from November 1, 2022, to October 31, 2027. An exceptional feature, the elimination of the initial two salary tiers means that even flight attendants with less than three years of service tenure will promptly advance to the third tier, marking a substantial salary enhancement.

The provisions of the freshly inked collective agreement also encompass the preservation of crew seat numbers on flights spanning 7 hours or more, as well as those departing Canada post 10 p.m. Moreover, a surge in personal leave days and vacation entitlements adds to the impressive set of gains for the flight attendants.

Chantal Bourgeois, the national representative of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), expressed her contentment with the outcome, stating, ‘It’s been a lengthy and intricate journey, but we are finally witnessing a tangible improvement in the wage structure for our valued flight attendant members. This adjustment is truly well-deserved after years of unwavering dedication amidst the company’s financial adversities, compounded by the tumultuous period of the pandemic and the current high inflation rates.’

The Air Transat Component, comprised of two local unions situated at airports in Montreal (YUL) and Toronto (YYZ), forms part of CUPE’s acclaimed Airline Division, which serves as the representative body for over 18,500 flight attendants employed across a spectrum of leading airlines, including Air Transat, Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Sunwing, WestJet, Encore, Calm Air, Canadian North, Pivot Airlines, Flair Airlines, PAL, and Pascan.