Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 28/98) - A strike by Air Canada pilots will not effect flights in the NWT, Jean-Marc Belanger, chairman of the Air Canada Pilots Association, said.

But if there is a strike, Northerners could run into Air Canada flight connection problems once they reach Edmonton or other southern destinations.

Air Canada does not fly in the NWT.

The planes that display Air Canada logos are owned by First Air. In June 1997, Makavik-owned First Air acquired NWT Air from Air Canada. NWT Air was the Northern arm of Air Canada.

Pilots flying these planes work for First Air, not Air Canada.

Don Orr, a vice-president with Ontario-based First Air said Tuesday that First Air will continue its schedule regardless of what happens.

NWT Air has scheduled flights between Yellowknife and Edmonton. Other NWT Air destinations are Inuvik, Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit.

First Air could see reduced business because travellers connecting with Air Canada planes may postpone or cancel their plans, Orr said.

Air Canada's 2,100 pilots are in a legal strike position at 11:59 p.m. (EDT) Tuesday, Sept. 1 (9:59 p.m. local time) after Federal Labor Minister Lawrence MacAuley released Air Canada and the Air Canada Pilots Association from conciliation Tuesday.

Despite the strike date being set, the two sides agreed Wednesday to resume talks.

The talks are "one last chance to resolve this," Belanger said.

Air Canada pilots have been without a contract since April 1.

In Vancouver, Air Canada spokesperson Sandie Dexter said in the event of a strike, Air Canada will have a contingency plan to put customers on other airlines or offer refunds.

For travellers who have bought restricted tickets for travel between Sept. 2 and Sept. 6 and want to reschedule there will be no fees for changes. Unaccompanied minors and customers requiring medical approval to travel who planned to fly between Sept 2 and Sept. 9 will be rebooked on another carrier, Air Canada said.