Canada’s Transport Minister Calls for a Sunwing Flight Investigation
On Tuesday, Omar Alghabra, Canada’s Minister of Transport, tweeted that he wants Transport Canada to investigate a Sunwing flight that turned into a mask‑free, booze‑filled gathering.
What the Minister Said
- He mentioned “unacceptable behavior” on the Dec 30 flight from Montreal to Cancun.
- Passengers were allegedly taking selfies, drinking, and crowding each other in a way that could spark a COVID-19 outbreak.
- Alghabra’s call is part of Canada’s larger effort to keep the surge in cases under control.
Sunwing’s Response
The leisure airline described the group’s antics as “unruly” and in violation of Canadian aviation and public‑health rules. As a consequence, the return flight scheduled for Jan 5 has been cancelled because the passengers would not comply with the fare terms.
Union’s Take
Rena Kisfalvi, president of CUPE’s local for Sunwing flight attendants, slammed the behaviour, calling it mob‑like and dangerous for crew. She urged the airline and federal government to protect staff from such chaos.
Timeline of the Incident
- Dec 30: Flight departs Montreal; incident occurs.
- Immediate response: Sunwing’s security team launches an investigation.
- Jan 4: Transport Minister asks for a formal inquiry.
Canada’s Current COVID‑19 Situation
While this flight issue rattles the aviation sector, Canada’s most affected provinces are tightening restrictions: large schools are closed until Jan 17, restaurants in Quebec are shut down, and a curfew runs from 10 pm to 5 am.
With the October surge of the Omicron variant, authorities are on high alert. Cases are climbing, and the government warns citizens to stay vigilant as the fever continues to flare.
