Disruptions to Bermuda residents’ travel arrangements continued yesterday as Air Canada suspended its plan to implement a phased resumption of operations following a labour dispute.

The airline posted on its website yesterday morning that the Canadian Union of Public Employees was “illegally directing its flight attendant members not to return to work” and confirmed that all of its flights had been cancelled “until further notice”.

The action was spurred after a breakdown in talks with the carrier about contract negotiations.

Skyport confirmed that the Air Canada flights to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport yesterday were cancelled because of the strike.

A spokeswoman for Skyport, the operator of LF Wade International Airport, told The Royal Gazette that the following statement was effective on Sunday.

It said: “Passengers booked on these flights should have received communications directly from the airline about alternate arrangements. We encourage Air Canada passengers over the coming days to reach out to the airline for more information.”

Meanwhile, travellers have been posting on social media about disruptions to their itinerary as a result of the cancellations.

One Bermuda resident, who wished to remain anonymous, was booked on an Air Canada flight from Bermuda tomorrow to travel to Europe for a friend’s wedding.

As of yesterday afternoon, she had still not heard from the airline on the status of her flight. Despite numerous attempts to get information by phone, she was ultimately told she would have to wait until Tuesday morning and call back.

She feared she would miss the wedding, not least with the threat of Hurricane Erin, so decided to book new flights through British Airways with the hope the Air Canada flight would be cancelled and she could receive a full refund.

The traveller told The Royal Gazette yesterday afternoon: “It is pretty certain it will be cancelled as the union has challenged the back-to-work ruling from the court. It’s going to take several days before it can be heard.

“It’s not good news. I managed to get through to Air Canada and the man I spoke to was rude. I just asked him what my options were and how can I make sure I can get there but he just said I have to wait.

“I tried calling again and spoke to a lovely lady but she said BA is not a partner airline.

“It’s miserable. I understand the flight attendants’ perspective. It is really tricky, it’s a terrible situation and with the storm — it’s now or never. We don’t have the option to travel on Thursday.”

The traveller said she has not been contacted by Air Canada and only found out about the strike and potential cancellation through an article in the Wall Street Journal.

She said she decided to book a flight herself through British Airways.

She added: “I don’t want to take the risk of missing an important moment. I’m flying tomorrow instead to avoid any potential issue with the storm too.”

A Bermudian family on holiday in Toronto were scheduled to fly back home yesterday.

The mother said they received confirmation of their flight cancellation on Sunday.

The mother, who did not wish to be named, said: “We had to take an option via the website, which has us going from Toronto to Detroit, overnighting in Detroit then flying from Detroit to Newark and then from Newark to Bermuda.

“It means we have to pay for a night in a hotel in Toronto and another hotel in Detroit. It’s an unexpected financial cost.

“I had to be back for work so I had to let my employer know I would be a day late coming to work and they have to accommodate for me not being there.

“We have not been able to speak to anybody on the phone at Air Canada at all despite trying about 30 times.

“It’s a bit stressful because you can’t talk to anyone and we just felt stuck like we can’t do anything about it.”

The CUPE, which represents thousands of the airline’s flight attendants, gave notice of a stoppage over the contract negotiations.

The union claimed the issue had been delayed by the carrier for the past nine months.

A statement on the airline’s website said the planned labour disruption was expected to begin in the early hours of Saturday, affecting Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights.

Air Canada said in a statement yesterday morning: “Air Canada has suspended its plan to gradually resume operations after the CUPE illegally directed its flight attendant members not to return to work.

“All Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights have been cancelled until further notice. Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz or PAL continue to operate as normal.

“Please do not go to the airport unless you have a confirmed booking on another airline. We will notify you of all impact to your flight itinerary. Additionally, you can check your flight’s status online or on the mobile app.”

It then outlined its flexible rebooking policy and added: “Note that contact centre wait times will be longer than usual as we assist customers through this disruption.”

The CUPE reported on Friday that 88 per cent of Canadians supported the strike for “fair pay” according to polling by Abacus Data. It added that “they want the federal government to back off and let them negotiate it freely and fairly”.

The survey of 1,500 across Canada was conducted last Thursday and Friday with a weighted sample.

“Despite Air Canada’s campaign of half-truths against their cabin crew, Canadians clearly stand on the side of fairness — with flight attendants,” said Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada component of the CUPE.

“Air Canada wants to force flight attendants to continue working for free and reinforce the gender wage gap for our female-dominated workforce and they want the federal government to help them do it.”