Air Canada has its work cut out to regain consumer confidence following disruptions

MONTREAL - Air Canada has work to do to regain the confidence of passengers following flight cancellations, unresolved labour disputes and the closure of its main repair firm, industry observers said Wednesday.

Jeffrey Bodnarok, who was travelling with his family of six, carefully checked the status of his flight to Punta Cana on Wednesday before making his way to Montreal's Trudeau International Airport.

Bodnarok said he was concerned about the flight after cancellations last weekend, due in part to pilots calling in sick, and this week's closure of aircraft maintenance firm Aveos Fleet Performance.

...Karl Moore, a professor at McGill University's Desautels Faculty of Management, said Air Canada has faced a tough year because of labour issues and high fuel prices.

"It's a tough task given what they've got to do to return the airline to greater profitability and to try to solve some knotty problems."

But he believes the relatively few Air Canada passengers who have deserted the carrier will return because federal legislation all but assures the worst of the labour strife is over.

Read full article: Winnipeg Free Press, March 21, 2012