Generally speaking, as long as airline employees are not unionized, or the company's headquarters are located in a country where laws restrict unions' right to strike, the risk of a strike is relatively low. This can be understood from the following perspectives:
1. The three largest airlines in the Middle East
Emirates
Etihad Airways
Qatar Airways
These airlines are headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, where the local labor system hardly allows union organization and strikes, so the risk of strikes is extremely low.
2. Some Asian airlines
Singapore Airlines
Cathay Pacific (Trade unions exist in Hong Kong, but strike action is rare, with almost no major strikes in the past decade)
Korean Air, Asiana Airlines (South Korea has labor unions, but strikes are rare and usually have limited impact)
Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA) (They have unions, but Japanese unions are generally mild in their actions, with strikes rare and often focusing on "symbolic strikes" or negotiated compromises)
3. Mainland Chinese airlines
Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, etc.
Due to the actual situation in mainland China, there is basically no risk of union strikes.
4. Some information about low-cost airlines
Low-cost airlines in Southeast Asia (such as AirAsia and Scoot) generally do not have strong unions and the risk of strikes is low.
European low-cost airlines (such as Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air) often experience strikes because European trade unions are strong.
summary:
If you want to avoid strike interference as much as possible, you can give priority to the three major Middle Eastern airlines (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad) and Chinese mainland airlines; followed by Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines. Although they have unions, strikes are very rare.
Ranking of international airlines with the lowest strike risk
Zero strike risk level (almost impossible to strike) , these airlines are located in countries where union strikes are rarely allowed or company systems completely avoid them:
Emirates (United Arab Emirates)
Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi)
Qatar Airways (Qatar)
Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines (Mainland China)
Features: There has never been a strike news.
Very low risk (little impact on flights). These airlines have unions, but the cultural or legal environment means strikes are rare:
Singapore Airlines (Singapore)
Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) (Japan – common “symbolic strikes” that rarely affect flights)
Korean Air, Asiana Airlines (South Korea – unions exist, but strikes are rare)
Characteristics: Asian culture tends to avoid long strikes, passengers are rarely affected.
Low risk level (strikes are possible but the probability is low)
Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong – unionized, but strike action is rare)
Taiwan's China Airlines and EVA Air (pilot/flight attendant strikes have occurred in the past, but the frequency is low)
Thai Airways (occasional labor-management friction, but generally less so)
Characteristics: There may be strikes in some years, but this is not the norm.
High risk (frequent strikes, passengers should be aware)
Air France
Lufthansa (Germany)
British Airways
ITA Airways (formerly Alitalia, with a history of frequent strikes)
Iberia
European low-cost airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air)
Characteristics: European trade unions are powerful, strikes occur frequently, and flights are delayed or canceled on a large scale.
Final Recommendations:
If you are most afraid of encountering a strike when traveling, you can choose to:
The three largest in the Middle East (Emirates / Qatar / Etihad)
Singapore Airlines
Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways
Mainland China's state-owned airlines
Airlines in the United States and Canada are in a unique situation when it comes to strike risk: while most of their employees are unionized, the law makes strikes in the airline industry very difficult.
United States
In the United States, airline employees generally have strong unions (pilot unions, flight attendant unions, ground staff unions, etc.). However, the Railway Labor Act (RLA) applies to the aviation industry and stipulates that strikes must go through:
The union negotiated with the company for a long time;
The Federal Mediation Commission intervened;
If there is still no result, it will need to be reviewed by the Presidential Emergency Board (PEB);
The president or Congress can force a delay or prevent a strike.
Result: Strikes by major U.S. airlines are theoretically possible, but in reality they are extremely rare and are almost always announced weeks in advance; they don't happen suddenly.
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines ( relatively lightly unionized, with a history of few strikes)
United Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Historical situation:
There were small-scale pilot or mechanic strikes in the 2000s, but there have been few real large-scale groundings since 2010.
Although the union has protested in recent years (over pay increases and scheduling issues), these were all resolved at the mediation stage.
Conclusion: Strike risk for major US airlines = Medium to low (unions exist, but they are strongly constrained by law, and full-scale strikes are rare).
Canada
Canada does not have an RLA like the United States, but the aviation industry is also a critical public service and the government usually intervenes quickly.
Air Canada
WestJet
Air Transat
Historical situation:
In 2011, the Air Canada pilots union launched a strike, but the Canadian federal government quickly enacted the "Forced Return to Work Act" and the strike lasted only a few days.
In 2023, WestJet mechanics planned to strike, but the Canadian Ministry of Labour directly intervened to prevent it.
Conclusion: Canadian airline strike risk: medium to low (unions are powerful, but the government almost always intervenes to prevent large-scale flight suspensions).
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