Air Canada’s strike has left travellers stuck abroad, forcing families to spend thousands on replacement flights, miss work, and struggle without needed medication. AP Photo
Canadian travellers are facing chaos after Air Canada flight attendants went on strike over the weekend. The walkout started after months of failed talks between the airline and the union. Ottawa ordered more than 10,000 attendants back to work, but the union challenged that decision in court. On Monday, the Canada Industrial Relations Board ruled the strike unlawful and told attendants to return.
Despite the ruling, passengers remain stranded across the globe. Many travellers say they received no help, had to spend hours on hold, or paid thousands for new flights.
Families Left On Their Own
Oleg Navitski from Vaughan, Ontario, said Air Canada cancelled his family’s flight from Greece to Toronto on Monday. He received a text saying no flights were available, even after the airline searched over 120 carriers. The family got a refund option but no way home. “My primary concern is who is going to pay for this,” he said. He added that his insurance does not cover labour disputes.
Endless Calls, No Help
Joel Kazmi from Oakville, Ontario, said his family’s flight from Paris to Toronto was cancelled at the last minute. He and his wife called Air Canada at least 25 times with no luck. “They are simply unreachable,” he said. He added that the airline refused to rebook them even after responding to a message online.
Paying Double for Flights
Zahid Pervez and his wife Shabana were returning from their nephew’s wedding in Frankfurt when their flight was cancelled. At the airport, he found long lines and confusion. With no medication left and work waiting, he had no choice but to buy new tickets. His daughter found flights through another airline for $4,600, double the original cost. “Air Canada should be paying them,” she said.
Honeymoon Ends in Disappointment
Lynne and Greg MacNeil were celebrating their honeymoon in Italy when their flight home was cancelled. Lynne said they got boarding passes through the Air Canada app, only to later receive an email that their flight was gone. She said customer service was unreachable and her travel agent couldn’t get through either. “Other than an email, Air Canada has made no attempts to help,” she said. She ended her message with: “Still madly in love and stuck in Rome.”
Out of Medication in Mexico
Emily Pringle from Oshawa, Ontario, travelled to Mexico with three friends for a getaway. Their flight home was cancelled Saturday. She said the earliest flight offered was Friday, forcing them to pay for extra resort nights. One of her friends also ran out of diabetes and blood pressure medication. “We all have families and obligations at home,” she said. “Some of us are running out of much-needed medication.”
Travellers Demand Accountability
Passenger rights experts say Air Canada must either refund tickets or book travellers on other airlines at no extra cost. But many customers say they’ve been left paying out-of-pocket while stranded far from home.
