Tentative 11-yr labour deal for Jazz pilots key to new deal with Air Canada

MONTREAL — Air Canada affiliate Jazz Aviation has a tentative, 11-year labour agreement with its pilots association that will run until Dec. 31, 2025, if ratified by the union’s members.

The proposed contract is being presented as a key element in a revised commercial arrangement with Air Canada (TSX:AC), which buys most of the seating capacity on Jazz planes to carry passengers between the main hubs and other cities.

Air Canada chief executive Calin Rovinescu says the amended capacity purchase agreement with Jazz parent Chorus Aviation (TSX:CHR.A).will reduce costs and improve service and connections between planes operated by the two companies.

The tentative labour agreement was announced by Jazz but it didn’t provide details on wages, working conditions or other terms of the proposed contract reached with the Air Line Pilots Association.

Air Canada’s own pilots rativied a 10-year contract last October that will run until September 2024, about 15 months before the Jazz agreement would be due to expire.