MONTREAL, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Canadian leisure carrier Air

Transat and its pilots' union said on Tuesday they had

reached a tentative deal that promised higher pay and better

working conditions, averting a potential strike and allowing

operations to return to normal.

More than 750 pilots at the Montreal-based airline are set

to vote on ratifying the agreement in the coming days, the Air

Line Pilots Association (ALPA) said in a statement.

Air Transat said its operations were returning to normal

after it had started to suspend flights this week following a

72-hour strike notice from ALPA.

The union said the new contract "delivers on the goals of

better job security, enhanced compensation, and more flexible

schedules to allow for a better work-life balance."

The deal averted a second major strike at a Canadian

carrier this year. Flight attendants at Air Canada ( ACDVF ) walked off

the job in August, halting operations at the country's largest

airline for four days.

Air Transat had previously said it proposed compromises,

including a 59% salary increase over five years and improvements

to working conditions. The union and the airline did not provide

details of the tentative deal.

The carrier focuses primarily on holiday travel to

international destinations in Europe, the Caribbean, the U.S.

East Coast, South America and Africa, according to its website.