A Calgary mother is facing uncertainty in her plans to visit her ailing father in Brazil after Air Canada canceled her flight at the last minute. Barbara Gritti learned several months ago that her father has Stage 4 colon cancer. She expressed her concern, saying, "So far, he’s fighting, but we have no idea how long he will be here."

Gritti, her husband, and their 13-year-old daughter had booked a round-trip flight to Brazil through Air Canada in March, scheduled to depart on Friday. However, just before their departure, Air Canada canceled the flight, leaving the family scrambling for alternatives. They arrived at the airport with packed bags, hoping the airline would assist them in finding seats on another carrier.

By early Friday afternoon, Air Canada informed them that they could not be rebooked. An automated message from the airline stated, "We’re very sorry, but after searching for flights on over 120 airlines for three days before and after your canceled flight, we’ve been unable to rebook you."

The airline offered a refund, but Gritti stated that rescheduling for a later date was not an option. "It doesn’t solve my problem. I’m still not going to see my dad," she said. Gritti emphasized the urgency of her situation, wanting to spend time with her father while he is still able to enjoy life. Additionally, she runs a dayhome in Calgary and needs to return in time for the upcoming school year.

The family is also uncertain about which alternative airlines Air Canada considered, as they noted that multiple flights to São Paulo were available over the weekend, with prices ranging from $2,300 to $3,800 per traveler. This is significantly higher than what they initially paid for their tickets.

As Air Canada prepares for a potential strike, all of its flights are set to be grounded by 1 a.m. Saturday. The sudden cancellation of flights has led to a surge in airfare prices on other carriers, particularly during the busy summer travel season. Travel experts have noted that the price increases are a result of supply and demand, as passengers rush to secure seats.

Vicky Young, a travel agent in Calgary, highlighted the challenges faced by travelers. One of her clients was scheduled to fly from London to Ottawa on Saturday, but that flight was also canceled. "Even though we were fairly confident it would be canceled, we were crossing our fingers and toes," Young said.

John Gradek, an aviation expert, explained that the situation is creating a temporary disruption in consumer confidence. He noted that Air Canada accounts for about half of the available seats for air travel in Canada. Lesley Keyter, another travel agent, pointed out that the current high prices are a result of last-minute bookings during the summer season.

"It’s not surprising, because you’re looking at booking last minute in the summer season," Keyter said. She added that algorithms have increasingly influenced airfare pricing, making it difficult for travelers to find reasonable rates.

Despite the current turmoil, Gradek believes that Canadians have a short memory when it comes to air travel disruptions and that travelers will likely return to Air Canada in the future.