Two Canadian children who were supposed to return home from their summer vacation on Air Canada have had their flights delayed by a week after flight cancellations due to a flight attendant strike. Michel, 11, and Tom Gorodetsky, 14, who were traveling with the airline’s “unaccompanied minor” service, were scheduled to fly from Prague to Toronto on Wednesday, but the cancellation pushed their return to August 27.

The children’s mother, Karolina Gorodetsky, expressed concern about the situation, saying it would be difficult for the children to remain in such an uncertain situation for an extended period of time. She also stressed that she had tried to find other options, including flights to cities near Toronto and land travel, but had not found a suitable option.

The strike of about 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, which began on Saturday, has led to the cancellation of many flights. Although the Canadian government has ordered them to return to work, the strike continued until a temporary agreement was reached.

The head of the Air Passenger Rights Association of Canada called Air Canada’s action a violation of passenger rights laws, saying the company was required to find a replacement for the children within 48 hours or to rebook them on other airlines. He also noted that under European regulations, Air Canada must pay for accommodation, meals and compensation of up to €600 per passenger.

Air Canada responded by saying that the main reason for the situation was the requirement to fly unaccompanied minors directly and that it was currently exploring alternatives. The company’s chief operating officer also apologized to passengers and stressed that Air Canada is committed to regaining the trust it has lost and returning flights to normal.

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