TORONTO – Passengers across the country scrambled to deal with the fallout as labour strife between Air Canada and the union representing its 10,000 flight attendants left planes grounded.
Major Canadian airports warned travellers not come to the airport unless they had a flight with another carrier after Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge suspended operations earlier today when the flight attendants when on strike.
But dozens of passengers who had received notice that their flights were cancelled showed up to Toronto Pearson International Airport Saturday morning regardless, many looking for information from Air Canada staff about alternative options.
Tanya Baron and her family are trying to get home to Saskatoon, but she fought tears as she explained the airline has yet to provide them with rebooking options and she was getting the runaround.
Sandra Caputi, who was flying home to Thunder Bay, Ont., after spending a few weeks in Greece, is one of the lucky ones to grab a competitor flight from Porter at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to take her home this afternoon.
In Montreal, Bonnie Bradley says with no options available until Wednesday, she decided to book a car and drive home to Winnipeg after spending a 10-day holiday in Newfoundland.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 16, 2025.
