Ice and computers spell rough travels in Montreal

MONTREAL – Two factors whipsawed air travellers trying to get out of town Saturday: ice in Montreal and computers in Toronto.

“Everyone’s trying to get to Toronto,” said one air passenger trying to travel to London, Ontario. He wasn’t confident about his chances of getting there till the next day. “It’s looking more like tomorrow than today.”

Ice on the runways caused Trudeau International Airport to suspend operations for three hours starting shortly after 6 a.m. At the same time, a computer glitch at Pearson International Airport in Toronto caused flight delays. Since more Montreal flights connect in Toronto than anywhere else, travel plans all but went out the window Saturday.

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That was the problem that faced Stewart Libstug, who works in the furniture business and had a morning meeting in the GTA.

“I missed my 11:00 meeting so I called and rescheduled for one. And then I called again to cancel till four,” he said. “What happened was the airport didn`t seem to be open till 9:00 a.m. And Toronto also was closed this morning so it was all backlogged.”

Since the weather was the cause of the issue in Montreal, several air passengers could do little but vent their frustration.

“I spent the last two months of my life on a ship, waiting to get home,” said Jesse Ukrainyc, a steamship worker who was trying to get to Windsor. “And here I am.”

One veteran traveller trying to get to his home near Halifax said that this marked a teaching moment for him as far as air travel went.

“This is the last time I’m flying in the winter,” said Eli Frankel. “That’s it! I’m done!”