by their recent industrial troubles.

A deal was struck between the company and 5,000 flight attendants early yesterday, averting industrial action, but many customers cancelled arrangements in anticipation of difficulties.

A spokesman said the Bermuda flight, which carries a capacity of 131 people, out of the Island and Toronto today would have been just over half full, because of cancellations.

But she added that passengers could either get full refunds or could re-arrange their travel plans for a future flight.

Concerned travellers need to contact their travel agent or Air Canada directly, to sort out their requirements.

The settlement came too late for many, who had already been forced to re-book flights, find other airlines or cancel their plans because of the potential for a strike.

"We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers over the uncertainty of the past few days and we thank them for their understanding,'' said Jean-Jacques Bourgeault, senior executive vice-president of the company.

The labour dispute came as Canada's largest airline has just started to emerge from the effects of last September's pilots strike. That dispute shut down Air Canada for two weeks, alienating customers and burdening the airline with a big 1998 loss.

Road closed The bottom end of Hamilton's Reid Street will be closed to traffic tonight, Corporation of Hamilton secretary Roger Sherratt warned yesterday.

And ban on parking after 6 p.m. will extend from Reid Street's junction with Burnaby Street to Queen Street.

The road closure is to allow a celebration marking the opening of Gibbons Financial Services' new offices to go ahead.

Reid Street will be opened to traffic again at 10.30 p.m.

REPORT ON TEEN ORDERED CTS Report on teen ordered A Hamilton Parish man, who admitted receiving a stolen auxiliary cycle and possessing a dagger, will appear in Magistrates' Court for a social inquiry report in August.

Jamie Michael Smith, 18, of Aubrey Road, pleaded guilty before Senior Magistrate Will Francis yesterday.

The jobless man was picked up by Police on North Shore Road last November on the auxiliary bike which had been rented by another man from Oleander Cycles.

When Smith asked officers to retrieve his possessions from under the seat they found a black-handled dagger.

Smith will return to court for sentencing on August 16.