Air Canada says government should be ready to prevent pilots from striking

By Rajesh Kumar Singh

(Reuters) -Air Canada said on Thursday that the federal Canadian government should be prepared to intervene to prevent a looming pilots' strike that the carrier said could cause disruption for weeks to come.

Spokesman Christophe Hennebelle, speaking by phone, said the airline was still committed to reaching a deal but accused the union representing pilots of making unreasonable demands.

A strike could start as soon as Sept. 18. Air Canada and its low-cost subsidiary Air Canada Rouge together operate nearly 670 flights per day, and a shutdown could affect 110,000 passengers daily as well as freight carriage.

"We are bargaining. We are committed to reaching a deal. But we are saying that if that fails, the government should be ready to intervene and avoid the disruption," said Hennebelle.

Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has broad powers to tackle disputes and last month intervened within 24 hours to end a stoppage at the country's two largest rival companies, Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Canadian National Railway.

Around 100 business groups on Wednesday urged the government to prevent an Air Canada stoppage before it started. While Ottawa has intervened several times in labour disputes over the last few decades, it only does so after stoppages have begun, not before.

MacKinnon's office declined to comment on Air Canada's demands. He has repeatedly said he wants the two sides to sort out their differences at the negotiating table.

"There's no such thing as a short disruption. If we start winding down, there will be a disruption for several days, if not weeks," said Hennebelle.

Air Canada's 5,400 pilots are demanding wage rates that would narrow the pay gap with their counterparts at major U.S. carriers like United Airlines.

Hennebelle said the airline had offered a wage increase of over 30%.

The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents the Air Canada pilots as well as those at most U.S. airlines, was not immediately available for comment.

Association President Jason Ambrosi, writing on LinkedIn this week, said "pilots are united, committed, and unwilling to accept discounted wages any longer."

(Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh; writing by David Ljunggren; editing by Jonathan Oatis)