Passengers say they want more help from Air Canada as flights resume
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CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Cross-border traffic ticks up slightly in July, but duty-free shops still struggling
After months of Canadians boycotting trips south in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats and talk of annexation, traffic across the border showed a slight rebound in July. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), there were 2,383,038 land entries from Canada into the United States in July 2025. That's still down more than half a million compared to July 2024, when 2,918,110 entries were recorded. However, it marks the strongest month of 2025 so far. In Detroit specifically, there were 409,109 crossings in July. That's an increase from June's 380,259, but still down compared to July 2024. Month-by-month declines The data show just how much travel has dipped this year compared to 2024. Nationwide: Entries were down sharply through the spring — April 2025 saw 1.68 million crossings, almost half a million fewer than April 2024. May dropped even further, with entries down more than 536,000 year-over-year. Entries were down sharply through the spring — April 2025 saw 1.68 million crossings, almost half a million fewer than April 2024. May dropped even further, with entries down more than 536,000 year-over-year. Detroit: Similar declines played out locally. Crossings fell to 340,890 in February 2025, a loss of nearly 56,000 compared to the same month in 2024. May was the worst, with traffic down by more than 65,000 year-over-year. July's bump narrows the gap, but totals are still well below last year across both Detroit and the country as a whole. University of Windsor political science professor Jamey Essex said the rebound is in line with seasonal patterns. 'The trend is the same. There's just fewer people,' he said. 'Although it is notable that for the first time outside of the COVID years, I think since 2006, the number of people coming from the U.S. to Canada is more than the number of people crossing from Canada into the U.S.' Essex added that political boycotts often lose steam over time. 'That stuff is hard to sustain over a long period when you've got two countries like the U.S. and Canada that are, despite all the big talk the last several months, still very closely intertwined economically, socially and culturally.' Duty-free shops hit hard Even with the summer bump in crossings, Canadian-owned duty-free shops are still facing steep declines. Tania Lee, president of the Frontier Duty Free Association — which represents 32 land border stores across Canada — says the impact has been devastating. 'It has been one of the most trying years, especially coming after COVID, where most of our stores were closed and we were down 95 per cent,' she said. 'It's feeling eerily similar. And unfortunately, it's getting worse.' Lee said sales at Duty Free stores were down 33 per cent in June, and 36.9 per cent in July, 'So, I don't know where this is going to end, but it's not good for our stores.' Lee said the problem is compounded by the type of travellers still crossing. Day-to-day commuters may keep numbers from collapsing completely, but they're not duty-free customers. 'Duty free targets travellers. Travellers are our main consumers. They will stay overnight, and then they can bring their exemptions back to Canada,' she said. She said the summer, which should be peak season for the industry, has been especially bleak, 'July and August should be the busiest time. We should have packed parking lots. We should be making money for the slow winter months.' 'Right now, you will see my store in Sarnia, the parking lot is empty,' said Lee. 'We will see days where we see no cars in the parking lot.' One store in Woodstock, New Brunswick, recently closed after more than 40 years in operation. Lee said the association has asked Ottawa for regulatory support to help keep the industry viable, but so far action has been limited. Snowbirds sticking to their boycott Despite a small uptick in July, some travellers are still choosing to avoid the U.S. altogether. Windsor retiree Mark McCondach, who usually spends winters in Savannah, Georgia, said he cut last year's trip short, 'We actually came back a week early just because I was getting really, really just upset about the whole situation.' This year, he's planning to head to Europe instead, 'I don't begrudge anybody who feels the need to go over to see our neighbors. I mean, we've all got our reasons for going.'
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Air Canada reschedules 2 unaccompanied minors' flight a full week from when they were to fly home
Carolina Godoretsky's two children, ages 11 and 14, were supposed to fly home to Toronto on Wednesday after a summer vacation with their grandparents in Europe, but their flight is one of the many Air Canada cancelled amid the fallout from a flight attendants' strike. Their return trip home isn't for another week. 'I think really the challenge is that it's really difficult for children to stay and wait a week for a return flight. It's very different from adults. If I was there and believe me, if there was a flight of getting there and getting them back to Toronto, I would have done that. But, it's becoming really, really difficult,' Godoretsky told CTV News Toronto in an interview on Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENT 'We basically want them back home and the fastest and safest way possible, of course.' Godoretsky's two children, Michelle and Tom, flew to Prague on Aug. 8 to vacation with their grandparents, who were flying from Israel into the Czech Republic capital to meet them. Godoretsky says they flew there as unaccompanied minors with Air Canada without issue. Children between the ages of eight and 11 who are travelling alone are required to fly through the Unaccompanied Minor service, Air Canada's website states. It becomes an optional service for youth between the ages of 12 and 17. Through this service, airline and airport staff escorts them from the beginning through the end of their trip, ensuring they are safely united with their designated guardian at their final destination. Unaccompanied minors are also only permitted to travel on direct flights. The Godoretsky children's flight was initially scheduled for Wednesday at 1:40 p.m. local time, but was cancelled as a result of the flight attendants' strike, who went to the picket lines to demand fairer wages and pay for the work they do on the ground before the plane takes off. About 10,000 flight attendants hit the picket lines on Saturday morning and, barely a day later, Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu ordered them back to work using a contentious labour provision—something union members defied to continue striking. The union and airline have since struck a tentative deal. 'We're sorry, this flight is cancelled because a labour disruption is impacting our operations. Labour disruptions are outside our control and may affect flight schedules before, during, and after periods of work stoppage or slowdown,' an automated email from Air Canada to Godoretsky's children reads. In the email, reviewed by CTV News Toronto, Air Canada says its rebooking system scours for flights for 'up to three days after' their cancelled flight, including those offered by competing airlines. 'Unfortunately, we have not found any available options suitable for your itinerary,' the email reads. Tom and Michelle have been scheduled to come back to Toronto next Wednesday, Aug. 27, on a flight that will have them land at Toronto Pearson just before 5 p.m. This concerns Godoretsky, especially since she says she has been unable to get a hold of Air Canada despite repeated attempts both on the phone and via email. With the unaccompanied minor service, however, parents are required to contact Air Canada Reservations. 'I feel really, really worried,' Godoretsky said. 'There's a lot of uncertainty around all of this situation and as a parent, you really want to make sure that your children are safe and are able to go back home in a planned manner.' While their grandparents are caring for Tom and Michelle until they are able to fly home, Godoretsky says she has looked into every possible avenue to get them back to Toronto sooner. Godoretsky Tom and Michelle Godoretsky in Prague with their grandfather. (Supplied) 'We need a direct flight for the kids if they're flying by themselves. I even looked at any area around Toronto up to 10 hours drive, including the U.S., that I can take and drive myself there and pick them up from any airport,' Godoretsky said, adding she hasn't found an option that works for them. Gabor Lukacs, president of Air Passenger Rights, says it is 'completely unreasonable' on Air Canada's part to book them on a flight a week later as it breaches what is required under Canada's Air Passenger Protection Rights (APPR), which is 48 hours after the original departure time. 'Or they (the airline has) to buy them tickets on a competitor. Air Canada is also required to provide passengers meals, overnight accommodation and 600 Euros per passenger under the European regulation,' Lukacs told CTV News Toronto on Wednesday. On Air Canada's part, Lukacs says it has to explore options offered from nearby airports for the Godoretsky children to fly out of—not just Prague—pointing to Vienna and Frankfurt as potential options. The air traveller advocate says there is 'no reason' why Air Canada could not put the two children on a sooner flight, adding this breach of its APPR obligations could warrant a fine or charge as laid out in sections 174 and 175 in the Canada Transportation Act. For Godoretsky, Lukacs recommends looking at other airlines' unaccompanied minor services and booking them on the next flight out, even if it initially has an exorbitant cost as Air Canada would be on the hook to cover the extra charges. In an email to CTV News Toronto, Air Canada said it's been in contact with the family and has found alternate travel arrangements. 'Please note that the situation arose because of our policy that unaccompanied minors can only travel on non-stop Air Canada flights for safety and security reasons,' the airline said. In an interview with The Canadian Press on Tuesday, Air Canada executive vice-president and chief operations officer Mark Nasr said the airline is 'deeply apologetic' to all of its customers and is 'focused on making it right and getting them on their way.' 'When customers buy a ticket on Air Canada, they rely on the brand. We're making a promise and we failed to live up to that promise, plain and simple. We're going to re-earn that trust and it's going to start right now ... by getting the planes back in the sky.' he said. Air Canada has estimated that a return to full service will take seven to 10 days
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Most Air Canada domestic, U.S. flights expected to take off Thursday
Air Canada travellers load their luggage at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Dorval, Que., on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi Air Canada expects most of its North American routes to be back up and running today after resuming operations Tuesday following the conclusion of a strike by its flight attendants. An online dashboard tracking Air Canada's service resumption said last night that 97 per cent of domestic flights were expected to operate over the next 24 hours, along with 99 per cent of U.S. flights. But the airline's ramp-up of international flights was moving more slowly, with 76 per cent of planned flights expected to operate. Air Canada chief operations officer Mark Nasr said earlier this week that the restart process would take longer for international routes because the airline brought crews home before the strike, meaning staff weren't yet in position overseas when it ended. It is expected to take up to 10 days for service to return to normal levels across Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge. On Wednesday, the company said it was adopting a policy to reimburse certain customers if they booked alternative transportation in lieu of cancelled flights between Aug. 15 and Aug. 23. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 21, 2025. Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press
