Air Canada scrambles to match baggage with passengers amid flight cuts

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Air Canada is apologizing after saying it’s slashing home flights – simply because the resurgence of a extra regular summer season journey season kicks into high-gear.

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The change – a 15% lower of principally home flights – comes because the airline and airports throughout the nation battle with a journey surge that has led to deserted baggage piling up on account of flight cancellations, delays and disruptions.

“The outcome has been flight cancellations and customer support shortfalls on our half that we’d by no means have meant for our clients or for our staff, and for which we sincerely apologize,” Air Canada President and Chief Government Officer Michael Rousseau mentioned Thursday.

“This surge in journey has created unprecedented and unexpected strains.”

Issues have been piling up at Pearson Airport the place lineups and unclaimed baggage have turn out to be the norm.

The airline mentioned about 154 flights a day shall be cancelled in July and August.

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Three routes shall be quickly suspended between Montreal and Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Kelowna, in addition to one from Toronto to Fort McMurray.

Air Canada says clients shall be notified routinely when flights are cancelled.

“We’ll seek for alternate options if they need, or clients can request a refund,” Rousseau mentioned, acknowledging the suspension of flights “will lead to further flight cancellations that can have a detrimental affect on some clients.”

Individually, the airline mentioned it’s working to reunite the mounting piles of bags with passengers.

“The airline has redeployed plane from its Jetz constitution fleet to maneuver delayed baggage, which has elevated largely on account of air transport processing and infrastructure points outdoors its management,” an airline assertion mentioned.

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However these are usually not the one challenges hobbling the circulation at airports.

A rising backlog stays of about 333,500 candidates awaiting interviews for Nexus memberships.

These memberships permits pre-screened passengers to be fast-tracked by means of customs between Canada and the U.S.

The Canada Border Providers Company mentioned it’s working with U.S. Customs and Border Safety to find out when Canadian NEXUS Enrolment Centres will reopen.

Thus far, no date has been set to reopen these Canadian places of work.

Within the meantime, individuals searching for memberships or renewals are being instructed by CBSA to use on-line.

“If the applying is accepted by each CBSA and US CBP, candidates shall be invited to schedule an interview at their earliest comfort on the nearest out there U.S. Enrolment Centre.”

slaurie@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @_ScottLaurie