Canadians stranded in other countries by flight delays still don’t know when they’ll be able to return home | 24CA News

Corrine Fiddler has been celebrating Christmas along with her complete household in Meath Park, Sask., about 180 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, for 36 years, however this 12 months she and a few of her members of the family have been stranded in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, for greater than per week.

For Fiddler, this meant celebrating Christmas other than her husband and son. Fiddler’s travelling group of 10, together with some household and an in depth buddy, have been speculated to be again in Saskatoon on Dec. 21, however their Sunwing flight was cancelled.

“Every day since then we have had to pack our bags, check out of our hotel, and wait in the lobby for a shuttle to take us to the airport, but every day it’s cancelled,” she stated.

“We have a lot of luggage, including my granddaughter’s stroller. Sunwing knows there’s no plane coming, but we are being run around like dogs chasing their tails.”

CBC linked with greater than a dozen individuals caught within the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Cuba who’re all dealing with related frustrations.

Fiddler stated her group is reluctant to even go into the pool at their resort, for concern that they is perhaps requested to hurry to the airport at any second. Four of them are lacking out on work.

“We are running out of formula for my 11-month-old grandbaby. There are diapers and medications that we just can’t go buy off the shelf,” the 57-year-old stated.

“Again today, we were told we are flying out, did the same song and dance and jump on the merry-go-round, only to find it was cancelled.”

Fiddler stated she has to clean her garments within the sink every day, whereas her daughter who has three youngsters needed to pay $80 USD to have eight items of clothes washed.

“Our home is decorated, but we aren’t there. My husband and other son are still at home. It’s depressing and very frustrating,” she stated.

“Sunwing is being dishonest. We demand clarity.”

In an e-mail assertion, Sunwing stated it has accomplished two restoration flights to date this week.

“We have planned another eight recovery flights which are scheduled to depart up to and including December 30 and are currently finalizing recovery plans for our remaining passengers in destination,” the assertion stated.

The firm stated stranded clients who would like to e book an earlier return flight on one other provider can achieve this at their very own price and will submit a refund request for his or her unused Sunwing return flight.

Saskatoon International Airport stated in a press release that providers are returning to regular, “with the exception of Sunwing, which continues to face significant crew and aircraft challenges,” and inspired travellers to test flight statuses earlier than heading to the airport.

Patryk Jagielski, who’s stranded in Cayo Coco, Cuba, stated he and his spouse have been speculated to return on Christmas Eve, however a dearth of communication from Sunwing has them feeling forgotten.

The pair had been planning the journey as a honeymoon because the couple obtained married throughout the pandemic and have been unable to journey because of restrictions.

“It has turned truly into a nightmare. Everything fell apart.”

The Winnipeg resident suspects there are near 180 individuals who got here in on the identical flight as him nonetheless stranded in several components of Cuba.

Trouble discovering remedy

Jagielski lives with consideration deficit dysfunction and stated he can not discover medicines equal to his Canadian doses in Cuba.

He stated he tried to stretch his final dose just a little longer, however has been with out for 2 days and counting.

“It’s taking a very big toll on both of us,” he stated. “I’m not doing well and it’s incredibly stressful. We are left in the dark. Our mental health is deteriorating and my wife is often crying as she has some anxiety issues.”

He stated he consulted with the Winnipeg airport however, “no flight seems to be coming here from there anytime soon.”

The couple have contacted the Canadian consulate in Cuba twice, and say they have been instructed the primary time that journey is a private duty and the second time that they need to look into different carriers.

“They are not being very helpful. The complete lack of information is very difficult to deal with,” he stated.

“Sunwing gives huge hope and the next minute they let you down. Their tomorrow never seems to come.”

In an e-mail assertion, a spokesperson stated the Ministry of Transport is monitoring the scenario at airports very intently.

“Both Transport Canada and our office are in regular contact with airlines and airports to ensure they have what they need to keep passengers moving safely. The safety of passengers and crew is our top priority,” the spokesperson stated.

Could be caught one other week

Saskatoon resident Jody Klimkiewicz, who’s caught in Punta Cana along with her husband, stated passengers from the Toronto area are being given “priority,” as a flight was chartered yesterday.

“It’s frustrating when people from Ontario who have been here for three days get rescued,” she stated.

The 44-year-old was speculated to be dwelling on Dec. 21.

“We do have a flight scheduled for tomorrow, day seven for us, but I’ve found there’s no flight path registered in Saskatoon for it,” she stated.

“We could be stuck here for another week.”

Klimkiewicz stated she noticed one other stranded Canadian traveller have what seemed to be a coronary heart assault.

“The stress levels of being here are astronomical,” she stated.

“We are woken up in the middle of the night to get down to the lobby in 10 minutes to catch the shuttle to the airport. We check out and sit there all day and the shuttle never comes.”

Klimkiewicz stated households are sleeping on foyer flooring with their youngsters, simply ready for shuttles to the airport.

She stated the aircraft tickets with different carriers can go as much as $3,000 per particular person.

“People who have the means can get out, and that was the suggestion of the government also, but those who don’t have that are stuck in a waiting game.”