Air Canada resolving 60,000 customer claims and counting since strike

Several weeks after a nationwide strike affected thousands of flights across the country, Air Canada admits it’s still wading through customer complaints.

It confirms there are just under 54,000 open expense claims that need to be addressed — including some that have been open for up to 28 days.

The airline adds that, to date, it has resolved about 60,000 claims.

“We said at the outset publicly the process could take four to six weeks from the time claims are submitted and claims are still being received,” Air Canada stated in an email to 1130 NewsRadio.

The strike forced the cancellation or delay of hundreds of flights, leaving many in the lurch.

The numbers reveal the scope of the strike that only lasted four days in mid-August, while the union representing 10,000 flight attendants and their employer weren’t able to reach a deal.

Workers were protesting not being paid for duties performed when planes aren’t in the air.

Controversy arose when the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered flight attendants back to work, a move they defied, which led the board to rule the strike was unlawful.

Under rules set out by the Canadian Transportation Agency’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations, “When a flight is cancelled, or once a delay reaches 3 hours, an airline must also offer alternate travel arrangements in the same class of service and using a reasonable route. The airline must rebook the passenger on the next available flight operated by them or an airline with which they have a commercial agreement.”

If you are an Air Canada customer who still has an open expense claim related to the strike and want to share your story, contact Sonia Aslam.