Flight delays continue to linger in Ottawa days after storms, Toronto crash

The backlog of delays at the Ottawa airport is improving after snow and a plane crash in Toronto kept travellers grounded. CTV’s Dave Charbonneau reports.

Days after two back-to-back snowstorms in eastern Ontario and a fiery plane crash in Toronto, some travellers remain stuck at the Ottawa International Airport, waiting for their delayed flights.

Carolyn and Mike Holt were stranded in Ottawa after missing their connection to Vancouver yesterday, forcing them to find accommodations in the city.

“We had to get a hotel and stay overnight. And they gave us a new flight, which was cancelled for today,” Carolyn Holt said.

They say the delays are more than just an inconvenience. They’re racing against the clock to meet their new grandchild.

“We don’t want to miss it. Her due date is any day now. So, we’re trying to rush there. I don’t want to miss the birth of our grandson,” she said.

Sharon Paterson and her husband faced similar issues, missing their connection after being stuck on the tarmac.

“We should have been home last night,” Paterson said. “We had a connecting flight from Ottawa to Vancouver, and we sat on the plane on the tarmac for 45 minutes after we arrived because they couldn’t give us a gate.”

As they sat on the tarmac, they watched their connection take off.

“We watched our flight for Vancouver back out of the thing and take off without us,” she said.

The combination of airline delays, weather issues and backlogs from the Delta Airlines crash in Toronto left passengers waiting longer than expected.

“When we came in last night, our flight was on time, and we arrived on time. But they pulled into the wrong gate, they told us, and our gate was right next door, and they couldn’t back the plane up and move it in a timely fashion. And so, we sat there for an hour, and I missed my connection, along with many other people,” said Katherine Rosenbaum, another Vancouver resident.

Some flying out to the Caribbean Wednesday were also delayed.

“Yesterday, we got an email that it was delayed until 12:15. And then yesterday afternoon, we got another one, it was delayed till 1:15. And then we got here and now it’s 20-after-six,” said Ottawa resident Charlie Birtch.

For the Holts, they are desperately doing whatever they can to get home to see the birth of their grandson, including a short road trip if they have to.

“We are trying to get to Montreal. And then go from there to hopefully home,” Mike Holt said.

“I do want to get home, so I’m frustrated. And, the dollar signs are spinning in front of my eyes,” Carolyn Holt said.