Barbados ATC Walkout Forces Canadian Flights Back

March 9, 2026·25 days ago·via VisaHQ

Air traffic controllers in Barbados stage a sudden walkout, closing airspace for over seven hours and stranding passengers. Canadian carriers like Air Canada and WestJet endure "flights to nowhere," with AC-966 turning back four hours into its Toronto-Barbados run. Protests target staff shortages and unpaid overtime; government mediation yields a tentative deal, with talks set for March 11. U.S. flights from JetBlue, Delta, and United also divert amid spring-break chaos.

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