Air Transat Reaches Tentative Deal With Pilots, Averting Strike. Air Transat and its pilots' union have struck a tentative agreement, avoiding a major strike that threatened to halt flights across Canada. The airline says the deal will be sent to pilots for a vote in the coming days, and operations are already returning to normal. Union leader Captain Bradley Small credited pilot unity for finally pushing management into serious negotiations. More than 750 pilots will now decide whether to approve the agreement. The two sides had been locked in talks for 11 months, and tensions exploded when 99% of pilots voted to strike, forcing Air Transat to scale back flights ahead of the planned walkout. The union argued its old contract was far behind industry standards, but says the new proposal boosts pay, job security, and scheduling flexibility. Air Transat apologized to customers for recent disruptions and pledged to restore full service quickly. This marks the second major airline labour showdown in Canada this year, following Air Canada's flight attendant strike in August.