Thousands of customers still wait for refunds months after Air Canada strike

Thousands of Air Canada Customers Still Await Refunds After Strike

Nearly three months have passed since a labour strike grounded Air Canada flights for three days, leaving thousands unpaid for expenses caused by the disruption. Lynda Elstad, who spoke to us while boarding another Air Canada flight this month, is among those affected by the August strike.

Promises of Reimbursements

Air Canada committed to reimbursing customers for costs related to booking alternative flights and for food and lodging expenses incurred due to cancellations. However, many customers report significant delays in receiving refunds.

Customers' Financial Burden

Numerous customers paid for these expenses with credit cards, accruing high-interest charges. Gábor Lukács, President of Air Passenger Rights, raised concerns about the prolonged wait.

“That means those who incurred those expenses are paying tens of percent in interest charges on their credit cards, which is making it profoundly troubling.”

Legal Perspective on Delay

Lukács also pointed out the legal implications of the delay, emphasizing that airlines are required by law to respond within 30 days, which he interprets as including payment.

“The law is clear and an airline has to respond to these complaints within 30 days and I would find that response also means payment as well. You cannot take four to six weeks after you respond to remit payment.”
Summary

Thousands of Air Canada passengers still await timely refunds following the August strike, facing financial strain and legal concerns over delayed reimbursement.

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CityNews Toronto CityNews Toronto — 2025-11-11

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