To the editor:
I am writing you to express my deep concern over the continual Air Canada flight cancellations and disruptions to and from the North Bay airport.
Our story is only one of the countless situations that have occurred due to last-minute cancellations of the North Bay flight.
Our 12-year-old grandson is a member of the Scouts in North Bay. They prepared for well over 2 years to attend a world jamboree in Finland. Flights were arranged for 16 people round trip out of North Bay. Their trip started out precariously, not knowing if their initial flight out of North Bay would be cancelled. They didn’t know till the last minute if the flight would go. Thankfully it went.
They were not so fortunate on the return flight. They arrived in Toronto at 10:30 p.m. and found that their connecting flight to North Bay had been delayed. They slept on the floor at the airport in anticipation of flying home a little later on the morning flight. It was subsequently cancelled.
Does Air Canada expect these people to camp out at the airport until it’s convenient for Air Canada to get them to their final destination???
If Air Canada is not in a position to fulfill their flight obligations, then they shouldn’t be offering the flight. At least then, people can make alternate concrete plans for their travel ( bus, car, or hitchhike ). At this point in time, it seems it’s like spinning a roulette wheel for making our flight connections.
Air Canada is heavily subsidized by the government, both directly and indirectly. How many times has the government assisted Air Canada with money, in the interest of saving jobs? If I remember correctly, the government provided a Covid relief package to Air Canada, on the condition that they maintain their existing commuter routes.
Are they able to take the money, and then change the rules???
We have flown in and out of North Bay, pre-Covid, about 8 times a year (not a huge customer, but still a customer). On each of these occasions, the plane was full, so it should be economically feasible for Air Canada. We understand that there are occasional glitches with air travel, and we can accept that, but if it’s on a regular basis, it’s no longer a glitch, it’s a problem.
Air Canada is treating their customers with total indifference, and probably doing so in order to get more money from the government. Their customers should not be used as political pawns.
I feel sorry for these Scouts and the countless other customers of Air Canada that have to sit for what seems like an eternity at the airport.
Mr Rota, Mr Fedeli… this problem needs to be addressed. I understand that you can’t wave a magic wand and solve it, but I ask you, on behalf of countless customers of Air Canada, to do everything in your power to return air travel from North Bay to an acceptable and practical consistency.
Our future flying plans will not include connections to North Bay until this situation is resolved. If we have to drive to Toronto, there are many other airlines that would be happy to have us as a customer, and Air Canada will certainly be on the bottom of our list of choices.
Consistent air travel is vital to North Bay. Please fight hard and prioritize this issue for your constituents!
Don Dubytz
North Bay
