Passengers frustrated after Sunwing cancels vacations to prioritize getting others back home

Thousands of Canadians hoping to escape the relentless snow and cold at home have had their vacation dreams dashed after Sunwing cancelled all southbound flights out of two of the country's busiest airports this week.

In a statement posted to its website Thursday, the airline said it made the "necessary decision" to cancel all southbound flights out of Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday and Thursday, and all southbound flights departing from Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport on Thursday.

This was done in order to prioritize the safe return of customers "currently delayed in destinations due to recent weather disruptions, crew availability constraints and extremely limited hotel capacity," Sunwing said.

"This difficult but essential operational decision allows us to redirect our resources toward bringing delayed customers home as quickly and safely as possible."

The cancellations come after back-to-back winter storms hit eastern Canada, and as Toronto grapples with the aftermath of Delta Air Lines Flight 4819, which crashed and flipped upon landing on Monday. All 76 passengers and four crew members survived when the plane skidded on the tarmac and burst into flames.

The wreckage has been cleared from the runway, but the airport is still operating at reduced capacity and two out of five runways remain closed, an official with Toronto's Pearson airport said Thursday.

Sunwing said all affected passengers will receive a refund within 21 days. According to the Pearson website, 13 Sunwing southbound flights were cancelled on Thursday, and another 13 on Wednesday. Sunwing cancelled 21 flights out of Montreal on Thursday.

"I'm just frustrated," said Iesha Williams, who was supposed to fly from Toronto to Cuba on Wednesday to celebrate her 29th birthday.

"I planned this months in advance, and I don't think it's a good look for them," added Williams.

"It's my sister's wedding. I'm not making it now," said Blayne Mills, whose flight out of Toronto and accommodations in the Dominican Republic were cancelled on Wednesday. 

He said he would have tried to fly via a different airline or airport, but because Sunwing Vacations had cancelled his room at the sold-out resort when they cancelled his flight, he'd be unable to attend the wedding.

In Montreal, Manon Fortin said she was ready to cry when she arrived at the airport on Thursday to find her flight cancelled. She was part of a group of 45 people travelling to the Dominican Republic for her 60th birthday.

"I just wanted to cry and we were just, like, everybody looking at each other like, what are we going to do? Forty-five people here, what are we doing with the kids?" 

She told CBC Montreal they were able to rebook with another airline — at a cost of about $45,000 for the group.