Air Canada Reaches Tentative Agreement with Flight Attendants

Air Canada has reached a new agreement with thousands of flight attendants who are part of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

The new 10-year agreement is still subject to ratification but will cover approximately 6,500 flight attendants on Air Canada, and 700 at Air Canada rouge.

"This new, ten-year agreement with CUPE is an important development which will support long term profitable growth for the benefit of Air Canada, our stakeholders and our flight attendants at both mainline and Air Canada rouge," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines, Air Canada. "This is a win-win agreement that will provide added stability and flexibility while acknowledging the important contribution of our flight attendants towards Air Canada's future success. As the fifth collective agreement reached with unions representing our employees over the past year, it is further indication of the collaborative partnership that is building Air Canada into a Global Champion."

CUPE members still need to vote on the agreement and details will not be released pending ratification and approval by the Air Canada Board of Directors. The union will recommend ratification to its members and the Company will seek the Air Canada Board of Directors' approval for the agreement.

"We are pleased that the company has agreed to many key improvements to our current collective agreement, including much-needed provisions on job security amongst other important gains. Following many months of hard work at the bargaining table, the eight members of our bargaining committee are unanimous in their joint endorsement of this tentative agreement. We look forward to a sustained period of growth at Air Canada. Our company's global expansion in the months and years ahead will be mutually beneficial, and will have a tremendously positive impact on our membership," said Michel Cournoyer, President, CUPE Airline Division.

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 200 airports on six continents. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 63 airports in Canada, 52 in the United States and 86 in Europe.