‘Crazy booked, crazy expensive’: Band cancels Saskatoon show because of Air Canada strike

Labour strife at Air Canada is causing havoc for Saskatchewan travelers, as flight attendants defy a back-to-work order.

The Air Canada flight attendants’ strike grounded the Haywire show at Saskatoon’s Rock the River on Sunday.

“Because of the Air Canada strike, we couldn’t get out of Charlottetown,” Haywire keyboardist David Rashed told CTV News.

“We love playing there, we were looking forward to that gig.”

Flight attendants walked off the job Saturday after failing to reach a new contract agreement over unpaid work and wages.

An estimated 1,100 passengers are affected by the strike per day at Regina and Saskatoon’s airports.

Rashed said rebooking with another airline wasn’t an option as flights were packed and prices were sky-high.

“Crazy booked, crazy expensive,” he said.

• Get the latest news from Saskatoon, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

For example, the next available WestJet flight from Saskatoon to Toronto isn’t until Sunday — with one-way flights costing more than $1,000.

“Frankly, there just aren’t enough seats to go around,” James Bogusz, CEO of the Regina Airport Authority, told CTV News.

At Saskatoon’s airport, the Air Canada check-in area was mostly empty with overhead screens advising travellers impacted by the labour dispute to go online.

Local businesses that rely on air travel for meetings and conferences are bracing for impact.

“When one of the major air carriers in the country is unable to provide its services, it’s very problematic for businesses,” Keith Moen, executive director of the NSBA, said.

Flights will continue to be suspended on Tuesday as flight attendants continue to defy a federal back-to-work order.