UPDATE: Employee Travel blackout partially lifted

Dear colleagues,
With the restart underway, we are pleased to share an update to our employee travel blackout. Effective immediately, employees are permitted to list for standby travel. Space is anticipated to be exceptionally limited, but employees are welcome to try to fly.

A blackout of positive space (POS) leisure travel remains in effect, up to and including Aug. 23, with the exception of those returning home. Positive space travel for operationally critical business travel, including for company-arranged dead-heading crew and training is permitted.

Please keep in mind that our colleagues at Airports and in our Contact Centres remain focused on supporting our revenue customers. We ask that you do not go to the airport or call the Contact Centres looking for assistance with rebooking or making changes to an existing booking.

Employee Travel Blackout Period

Dear colleagues,
As our negotiations with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have reached an impasse, and the threshold for a strike or lockout nears, we are implementing an employee travel blackout period.

Blackout period

Effective immediately, travel using employee standby or positive space passes, unless as a company-arranged deadhead, is not permitted for the following nine (9) days, until Aug 22.

Additionally:

• Employees who commute to work may continue to do so.
• Employees may return home from business travel but outbound travel, with departure dates before Aug. 23 must be cancelled.
• Employees travelling on standby may attempt to return home.
• Employees travelling on POS leisure passes may attempt to return home however, they may be removed from the flight if those seats are needed for revenue customers.

The Employee Travel Site will still be operational; however, no new bookings can be made for travel between Aug. 13 and 22. This restriction is designed to protect resources and any available space either on Air Canada or our partners for our revenue customers.

Employees at Airports and Contact Centres will not be able to create new bookings or modify existing ones for employees.Please do not go to the airport or call the Contact Centres to seek assistance.

Cargo employee discount
The employee discount for goods shipped with Air Canada Cargo will be suspended as of today until further notice.

On-going communication and updates
Updates regarding the blackout period, including any extensions, lifting of the travel restrictions, or any new information will be posted on the Employee Travel Site. These updates will also be communicated in the Daily, on AC Life, on Viva Engage and posted on Aeronet, in a section that will be available shortly. Updates on the reinstatement of the cargo employee discount will be posted on HR Connex and on Viva Engage.