Air Canada Strike Snarls Travel

 

// (c) 2011 Air Canada

June 14--Thousands of Air Canada support staff went on strike Tuesday. The airline has vowed to keep flying all its flights, but passengers may face long delays at ticket counters and must check in electronically.

Almost 4,000 staffers who work at Air Canada call centers, airline ticket counters and at airport gates went on strike in a dispute over contract issues and pensions.

Air Canada has a daily round-trip flight between Seattle and Toronto, and its subsidiary Air Canada Jazz has frequent flights between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. and also to Calgary. Within Canada, Air Canada is the dominant carrier and offers many overseas flights

An Air Canada statement said travelers should check in online or through automated kiosks at airports (although there could be long lines there as well). There will be only a very limited number of staff at airport ticket counters and little phone support for callers.

The airline urged passengers to travel with carry-on luggage only since checking bags could mean lengthy delays.

More information at www.aircanada.com.

--Kristin Jackson for The Seattle Times