Sunwing cuts half of remaining winter flights from Saskatoon

The misery continues for Sunwing customers in Saskatchewan, as the airline announced Wednesday it was cancelling moreflights out of Saskatoon.

The cancellations equate to roughly half of the Sunwing flights planned to depart from Saskatoonthis winter, according to a statement from Saskatoon's John G. Diefenbaker International Airport.

The airport said Sunwinginformed it of the decisionWednesday morning, citing "extenuating circumstances."

"Although the airport is disappointed in Sunwing's decision to cancel some flights out of Saskatoon, we recognize it is necessary to provide guests with the experience they expect and deserve," the airport said.

The airport told CBC News on Tuesday thatapproximatelysix to 10 Sunwing flights departper week from Saskatoonfordestinations across Mexico and the Caribbean.

EffectiveFeb.5, Sunwing is cancelling weekly flights on Sundayfrom Saskatoon to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Effective Feb. 9, Sunwing is cancelling weekly flights on Thursday fromSaskatoon to Los Cabos,Mexico.

Effective Feb. 10, Sunwing is cancelling weekly flights on Fridays from Saskatoon toMazatln, Mexico.

The only exception is for the Family Day weekend departure toMazatlnon Feb. 17.

Latest in string of cancellations

The news comes a day after Sunwing slashed its remaining winter flights out of Regina.

In Tuesday's cancellations, the airlinesaidit would be offering affected customers the ability to transfer vacation packages tosame-day departures from Saskatoon or other Canadian airports at originally booked pricing, pending availability.

Sunwingpreviouslycancelled all service in Saskatchewan between Dec. 29, 2022, through to Feb. 3.

That was one part of widespread issues during the holiday season for airlines in Canada.

As of last week,SunwingAirlines hadreceived 7,000 complaints from customers unhappy with itsperformance.

Sunwing executives told MPs in the House of Commonsstanding committee on transport, infrastructure and communities that the airline had cancelled 67 flights between Dec. 15 and Dec. 31, 2022.

The airlinecited staff shortages as a reason for the cancellations, while Sunwing president Len Corradosaid it had struggled afterOttawadeclined its request to hire 63 pilots as temporary foreign workers.