Air Canada is finalising plans to suspend most of its flights ahead of a planned walkout by its flight crew next week.

Talks to avert the strike are continuing, but the airline said it would be forced to temporarily shut down if it can’t reach a new pay deal with its 5,200 pilots.

The airline and the Air Line Pilots Association entered a three-week cooling off period on 27 August – a legal requirement in Canada – which ends next Tuesday, 17 September.

However, if a deal isn’t reached before Sunday, 15 September, the airline and the union are likely to issue a 72-hour strike notice or lock-out notice that will trigger a three-day wind-down plan, during which Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge will progressively suspend all flights by 18 September.

“Air Canada believes there is still time to reach an agreement with our pilot group, provided ALPA moderates its wage demands which far exceed average Canadian wage increases,” CEO Michael Rousseau said on Monday.

Air Canada Express, which is operated by a third party, will not be affected by the strike and services will continue.