NewLeaf cancels flights

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A NewLeaf discount airlines flight from Hamilton to Edmonton was delayed this morning after passengers say they were told a flight attendant was unfit to fly and that the plane was 600 pounds overweight. Travellers say after the crew told them some passengers would have to volunteer to get off, 7 people stepped up with the promise of a direct flight later in the day but they received a rude awakening when they went back inside the airport.

NewLeaf travel says they can’t speak to what promise may have been made by their contracted staff and that there could have been a misunderstanding but at the end of the day, the ordeal has left 3 travellers furious and they have vowed to never use the airline service again.

Katie, Kaitlin and Steven say their travel experience with NewLeaf began with a rocky start.
“We had a flight booked, it then got delayed 3 hours, we were told one of the flight attendants was unfit to fly.”
“They were 600 pounds overweight and they needed people to volunteer to get off the plane.”

A NewLeaf spokesperson initially said the reason they were overweight was due to a contaminated runway shortening the length of takeoff. The airport issued us a statement saying: “Both runways have been open and fully operational all day and there have been no restrictions.” NewLeaf then emailed to clarify that the winds were a concern not the runway.

Back on the plane, travellers say the flight attendant promised a direct flight home today. 8am is when they were supposed to head back to Edmonton but after 6 hours of waiting at Hamilton airport they were finally given their arrangements to get back home. They will leave from Pearson airport tomorrow morning at 11:15 am direct to Edmonton. NewLeaf is paying for their travel, hotel, West Jet flight and has supplied them with a voucher for a free flight with their discount airline.

This comes as NewLeaf announces they are cancelling all flights to the U.S. Blaming West Jet for planning the same routes and the cost to fly down south. That includes flights to Orlando from Hamilton.

The move to cancel the Orlando flights has left many families, including a family of 6 out of a holiday. One family messaged us saying for his 6 family members their flights came to $2 000 with NewLeaf. Now that they’ve cancelled the cheapest they’ve been able to find is about $4 500, more than double the price and now out of budget. NewLeaf will be reimbursing travellers for the cancelled flights.