‘Tears’ and ’Disappointment' as Air Canada Strike Ruined Once-in-a-Lifetime Family Trip

‘Tears’ and ’Disappointment' as Air Canada Strike Ruined Once-in-a-Lifetime Family Trip
Cancelled and delayed Air Canada flights are seen on the departure board at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Dorval, Que., on Aug. 15, 2025. The Canadian Press/Christinne Muschi
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The union representing striking Air Canada flight attendants announced a tentative deal on Aug. 19 and flights began restarting the same day, but for some families, the cancellation of flights during the strike led to disappointment and ruined plans that are too late to fix.

Robert Walicki of Sarnia, Ont., says his son, Jan Walicki, is one of the estimated 500,000 people affected by the flight cancellations, which caused Jan to miss a long-planned trip with Robert and other relatives to explore their family’s roots in Poland.