Passengers at Montreal’s Trudeau airport facing delays, lost luggage amid ‘unprecedented’ demand – Montreal | Globalnews.ca

Everywhere you look at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport on Friday, there are long lines and long faces.

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“It’s been a nightmare,” said Alpha Collins, whose flight to Toronto was delayed.

The flight status board is littered with delays and cancellations, affecting most domestic flights. Many passengers’ first vacation in years is now in limbo.

“Air Canada delayed the flight from Toronto to Montreal and we missed our connection to Cancun,” said traveler Carl Gomez.

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Christopher Folck and his girlfriend also fly with Air Canada, but are currently stuck in Montreal.

“We had a cruise out of Barcelona. We had to be there exactly on time and they delayed our flight. We missed our cruise, so we don’t have a lot of money,” he told Global News.

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Some airlines, including Air Canada, say they don’t have the staff to keep up with demand.

The airline is cutting service in July and August, canceling about 154 flights a day. Most of those routes fly from Montreal and Toronto.

In an email to customers, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau says people are flying at a rate never seen before in the industry.

He said the surge in travel “has created unprecedented and unforeseen strains on all aspects of the global aviation system.”

“They have been selling tickets for flights that they didn’t have the staff, they didn’t have the resources, they didn’t have the airport capacity to serve. so now they have to face the music and they are finally doing the right thing,” said Air Passenger Rights President Gabor Lukacs.

At the departures level of Trudeau Airport, the lack of staff is evident.

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“They told me I should go up and talk to the manager. When I got to the top there were no managers, it was a phone booth,” Collins said.

Gómez, who was trying to find a way to Cancún, was appalled by the lack of assistance.

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“There is not a living human being in sight who can help him and the onus is on the consumer. This is not service at all, this is absolutely horrible,” he said.

With travel on the rise, people looking to get away for the long weekend should arm themselves with patience, and perhaps pack a little lighter.

Hundreds of unclaimed checked bags are sitting on the arrivals level. Frustrated passengers say their bags are nowhere to be found, even hours after landing

“I’m super tired and I can’t find my mom’s bag. So, to be honest, I’m very upset,” passenger Jennifer Joseph said.

The situation is not expected to be resolved soon. In the meantime, experts say get to the airport earlier.


Click to Play Video: 'Travel Advice: Ongoing Delays Affecting Canadian Travelers'







Travel Tips: Ongoing Delays Affecting Canadian Travelers


Travel Tips: Ongoing Delays Affecting Canadian Travelers

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