Sept 15 (Reuters) - Air Canada ( ACDVF ) said early on

Sunday it had reached a tentative agreement with its pilot union

over a new four-year collective agreement, in a deal that will

avert a near-term strike or lockout.

The airline said in a statement that terms of the new

agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) will

remain confidential, pending a ratification vote by its members.