Airline cuts Canada flights
Thousands of passengers have been bumped off flights since Air Canada cancelled more than 180 between Hong Kong and Canada.
Staff are working overtime to find passengers alternative flights after the decision to cancel half of the services scheduled between March 4 and May 31 because of low demand.
Full services would be reinstated in June, said Angela Sue, the regional marketing and sales manager - Asia Pacific.
While Ms Sue agreed the decision, taken in early February, was sudden, she said it was normal airline business practice to counter low demand.
She refused to say how many passengers were affected or how much notice they were receiving of the need to change their travel plans.
'The staff have been working overtime to try to do everything,' she said. 'Air Canada sincerely apologises to customers for the inconvenience and is helping all passengers wherever possible.'
The flights cancelled are AC3008, a daily service to Vancouver, and AC11, daily from Toronto.
Angry passenger Dr Wing Tam, who is now in Canada, told the South China Morning Post he paid for two non-refundable tickets on January 22 for an evening flight from Toronto to Hong Kong on March 16 with his wife to attend their nephew's wedding.
'I want to know why they suddenly cancelled the flights. Is Hong Kong no longer important to them? I intend to lodge a complaint with Air Canada,' he said.
Ms Sue said the Hong Kong market was extremely important to the airline.
