Release #: 21.47
August 11, 2021

Canada’s Flair Pilots Vote to Join World’s Largest Pilots Union

McLEAN, VA—The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) certified the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) as the collective bargaining representative for pilots at Flair Airlines, Canada’s only independent ultra-low-cost carrier. With 86 percent of eligible pilots participating in the representation election, 97 percent voted in favour of joining the world’s largest pilot union on July 20.

“We’re pleased to welcome Flair pilots into our union and look forward to further advancing the aviation profession together,” said ALPA president Capt. Joe DePete. “As Flair pilots know, ALPA solely represents commercial pilots in the United States. and Canada, and we have a long history of always putting our members’ interests first. We look forward to working with our fellow colleagues to achieve a collective agreement that represents their contributions to Flair Airlines.”

Moving forward, Flair pilots will begin the process of setting up their internal organization and preparing for collective bargaining, all with the assistance of ALPA’s dedicated team of pilot volunteers and professional staff. Flair pilots—120 in total—operate scheduled passenger services in Canada, flying Boeing 737 aircraft. Headquartered in Edmonton, Alb., Flair serves 19 cities across the country.

“The addition of Flair pilots helps strengthen ALPA and allows us all to be more effective in advancing aviation safety and promoting the airline pilot profession,” said DePete. “I am extremely pleased to welcome yet another Canadian airline to our ranks.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents over 59,000 pilots at 35 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA website at alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ALPAPilots.

-###-

CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org