Passengers were in turmoil on Sunday as Air Canada cancelled numerous flights due to an ongoing labor dispute with the union representing over 10,000 employees. The disruption continued to affect travelers as they scrambled to rebook their flights home, facing significant financial burdens in the process.
James Hart and Zahara Virani, who traveled from Calgary to Toronto for what they expected to be an enjoyable weekend, found themselves in a difficult situation. They were informed late Saturday evening that their Sunday flight had been cancelled, compelling them to miss work. With limited options, the couple ended up paying $2,600 to rebook with another airline for a later date. “We kind of had an idea it wouldn’t be going out, and now you can’t get a hold of anybody to get any answers,” Hart expressed, emphasizing the frustration stemming from the lack of communication from Air Canada.
The couple managed to secure seats on a competitor's flight for the following Monday, but the cost was three to four times greater than that of their original tickets. Zahara Virani mentioned, “It’s a little frustrating and stressful, but at the same time, I don’t blame the flight attendants at all. What they’re asking for is not unreasonable whatsoever.”
At Vancouver International Airport, long lines formed as passengers sought updates on their delayed or cancelled flights. Meanwhile, workers outside protested, holding signs stating, “Unpaid work won’t fly.” Chi Ehis, whose flight was cancelled Sunday morning, faced an additional $2,000 expense to meet her family in Florida for a vacation. Instead of a direct flight from Vancouver, she planned to take a bus to Seattle before catching a more expensive flight to her destination. “I can’t scream. I have to just figure out what to do,” Ehis lamented, reflecting on the $1,500 cost of her original plane ticket.
Carole Delort and her husband Pierre Chatelain also found themselves stranded in Vancouver, amid concerns about how they would return to Montreal after a enjoyable trip touring Jasper National Park and Vancouver. Delort speculated on their potential delay, “With any luck we can leave today, but I don’t think so. I think we’ll be stuck at least until tomorrow.” Discussing their predicament with humor, she mentioned that if they were unable to leave, they might have to sleep on the airport floor, highlighting the difficulties faced by stranded passengers.
Despite the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordering both parties back to work by 2 p.m. on Sunday, the union representing the flight attendants announced that the workers would remain on strike. Consequently, Air Canada announced the cancellation of about 240 flights scheduled for Sunday, forcing many passengers to reevaluate their travel plans.
Some passengers expressed frustration regarding the lack of timely updates. Basil Erjoub, who intended to travel to Montreal, checked the status of his 4:30 p.m. flight before leaving home, only to discover upon arriving at the airport that his flight had been cancelled. “This morning, my plane was scheduled, but I got to the airport and I saw an email three hours ago, and they cancelled it,” Erjoub recounted from Toronto airport.
Tourists worldwide were also impacted by the grounded planes. Mel Durston, visiting from southern England, was concerned that her plans to see the Rockies might be ruined as she faced uncertainty in continuing her journey. “We wanted to go see the Rockies, but we might not get there because of this. We might have to head straight back,” she said. Robert Cwynar from Poland, whose flight to Saskatoon was cancelled, shared his frustration at the lack of support, stating, “There’s no help. We have to get our hotels on our own, our transportation, our meals… They don’t say anything.”
In response to the upheaval, Air Canada has stated that passengers whose flights are cancelled will be offered a full refund or the opportunity to change their travel plans without incurring additional fees. However, under Canadian airline passenger protection regulations, customers are not entitled to compensation for expenses incurred during travel delays attributed to situations outside the airline's control, such as labor disruptions. Air Canada reiterated that, “Customers in Canada are not eligible for compensation for delayed or cancelled flights, meals, hotels, or other incidental expenses for situations outside the carrier’s control.”
Despite Air Canada's announcement that flights would resume on Monday evening, a notice on its booking page indicated that all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights were cancelled until further notice. The combination of labor disputes and operational shutdowns has led to widespread frustration and financial strain among travelers across Canada.
