Air Canada Confirms Ratification of New Contract with International Brotherhood of Teamsters

MONTREAL, April 14, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today announced it has received confirmation from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) representing the airline's U.S.-based workforce that a new collective agreement reached February 4, 2015 has been ratified. The new agreement is in effect until June 30, 2019.

"We are very pleased our U.S.-based employees have ratified their new collective agreement," said Klaus Goersch, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.  "I thank both bargaining teams for their hard work, and our employees for achieving this outcome. Following agreements concluded in recent months with our pilots and with our UK-based employees, this agreement with IBT confirms our employees' desire to work with the company to continue building a stronger and sustainably profitable business."

The IBT represents approximately 650 Air Canada airport, cargo and call centre employees based in the United States.

This agreement with the IBT follows the conclusion in February 2015 of a new agreement with UNITE representing Air Canada's U.K. employees until 2019, and the conclusion in October 2014 of a new agreement with ACPA representing Air Canada's pilots on collective agreement terms for ten years.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Air Canada's public communications may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are based on assumptions and are subject to important risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements cannot be relied upon due to, amongst other things, changing external events and general uncertainties of the business. Actual results may differ materially from results indicated in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including without limitation, industry, market, credit and economic conditions, the ability to reduce operating costs and secure financing, pension issues, energy prices, employee and labour relations, currency exchange and interest rates, competition, war, terrorist acts, epidemic diseases, environmental factors (including weather systems and other natural phenomena, and factors arising from man-made sources), insurance issues and costs, changes in demand due to the seasonal nature of the business, supply issues, changes in laws, regulatory developments or proceedings, pending and future litigation and actions by third parties as well as the factors identified throughout Air Canada's public disclosure file available at www.sedar.com.  Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent Air Canada's expectations as of the date of this news release and are subject to change after such date.  However, Air Canada disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations.

SOURCE Air Canada - Corporate - Finance

Contacts : Isabelle Arthur (Montréal), 514 422-5788; Peter Fitzpatrick (Toronto), 416 263-5576; Angela Mah (Vancouver), 604 270-5741; Internet : aircanada.com