For Kelly-Ann Paul, CEO of the Canada Games Council, the timing of Air Canada's strike was incredibly unexpected. The strike by flight attendants last Saturday caused significant disruption to the Canada Games in St. John's, Newfoundland, which were scheduled to run from August 8th to 25th. The games involve the travel of young athletes from across the country.
Organizers quickly implemented a contingency plan. They arranged charter flights for teams from Ontario and Quebec whose travel plans were affected. Approximately 130 key technical officials also required charter flights. Athletes who had completed their competitions in the first week needed to return home, while the next wave of athletes was scheduled to arrive.
Paul described the situation as a major challenge. She explained that the Canada Games are already complex, with around 5,000 people traveling in and out of St. John's within a 24-hour period. The strike's timing, coinciding with a critical transition day, was highly improbable.
Flights resumed on Tuesday afternoon after a three-day halt, following a tentative agreement between the airline and the union representing over 10,000 flight attendants. However, even with the resumption of service, some families remained stranded in St. John's.
William Lippai, father of Team Saskatchewan men's basketball player Joe Lippai, stayed in St. John's with his wife and daughter, hoping to depart on Thursday. While the team secured a charter flight for Joe and his teammates, the family was left waiting. William Lippai learned about the cancellation of his Sunday flight at the end of Joe's final game on Saturday.
He mentioned that other families faced similar issues, with Air Canada canceling their flights as well. Some families who were booked on WestJet were able to leave as planned. The Lippai family explored alternative options, including visiting the airport in person after being unable to reach Air Canada by phone. They were eventually booked on a Wednesday morning flight, which was then delayed until Thursday.
The family considered various options, including flights through U.S. airlines, but found that the initial legs of those flights were operated by Air Canada's alliance partners. Taking a ferry to Nova Scotia to catch a flight was also considered but dismissed due to the lengthy travel time and logistical challenges.
Lippai estimated that the extended hotel stay would cost an additional $2,500 to $3,000. Despite the inconvenience, he emphasized that he didn't blame anyone for the travel difficulties. He and his family had been aware of the potential for a strike about a week before their trip, but they never considered missing the event, recognizing it as a unique opportunity.
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