Air Canada has cancelled thousands of flights. This amid a strike and lockout, the result of a protracted labor dispute with the union that represents more than 10,000 workers, that intensified Saturday. The cancellations left thousands of passengers stranded and scrambling for alternative travel arrangements, as the airline announced that all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights were suspended until further notice.
The Canada Industrial Relations Board had earlier ordered both Air Canada and the union that went on strike to return to work by 2 p.m. But as the union has announced that its members would be extending the strike, this has left thousands of passengers in limbo about their upcoming travel plans. Air Canada reported on Tuesday that they expect regular scheduled service to resume by late Monday evening. Yet this news did hardly anything to relieve the stress felt by all those impacted.
Passengers with delayed and cancelled flights were caught in long lines at Vancouver International Airport last month as they waited to hear on their travel options. Tens of thousands of travelers packed into airports around the world only to find out that their flights had been canceled and would no longer be departing.
Several of those airport-bound passengers in the early afternoon were caught off-guard, thinking their flights were ‘on time. Once they got there, they learned that their trips had been called off.
The wave of cancellations left it to passengers to find replacement flights or overnight accommodations—often at a heavy financial penalty. Chi Ehis experienced a last-minute ordeal when her Air Canada flight was suddenly cancelled. To be reunited with her family in Florida, she needed to pay staff an additional $2,000.
“I can’t scream. I have to just figure out what to do,” – Chi Ehis
Mel Durston and her partner were in a bit of a pickle. They eventually had to pay $2600 in order to rebook for an even later date and travel on another airline. As it turned out, Robert Cwynar and his wife were going through their own challenges. After their flight was cancelled, they were left in limbo with no other path home.
“There’s no help. We have to get our hotels on our own, our transportation, our meals… They don’t say anything.” – Robert Cwynar
Environmentalists James Hart and Zahara Virani were unable to attend work because their Air Canada flight was cancelled on Wednesday. This added even more financial burden to their already difficult and precarious lives. Acknowledging their frustrations, Virani said he felt for the flight attendants who had waded into the labor dispute.
“It’s a little frustrating and stressful, but at the same time, I don’t blame the flight attendants at all,” – Zahara Virani
Passengers were united in raising alarm bells over how Air Canada managed this crisis—specifically that they were never informed. TDB basil erjoub Extremely angry to have just received this horrible email on my cancelled flight. It came three hours before he was supposed to land at the airport.
“This morning, my plane was scheduled, but I got (to the airport) and I saw an email three hours ago, and they cancelled it,” – Basil Erjoub
According to Canada’s airline passenger protection regulations, Air Canada’s frequently delayed customers can’t expect compensation for the added costs of their travel disruptions. These delays are counted as outside the airline’s control. This has led to increased frustrations from travelers who are already being abandoned amidst this devastating pandemic.
Carole Delort told us at the airport that she was not sure where she would be going, as she waited for news on her travel plans.
“With any luck we can leave today, but I don’t think so,” – Carole Delort
The on-going labour dispute has opened the Pandora’s Box and asked whether Air Canada’s operational practices and transparency should be under scrutiny. Passengers are facing inconvenience and added expense under these confusing rules. Most of them are looking for a speedy settlement to this war so they can go back to regularity with their itinerant plans.
