Families reunite for the holidays at Ottawa airport

Mohammed Hussein was among the last to disembark a flight from Newark, N.J. It was one of several flights that landed on time in Ottawa on Christmas Day.

Published Dec 25, 2023 • 2 minute read

Bushra and Mohammed Hussein reunite at the Ottawa airport on Christmas Day. Mohammed had been travelling for over a month, and got home just in time for his mother’s holiday dinner. Photo by Marlo Glass /Postmedia

Bushra Hussein anxiously paces the halls of the Ottawa International Airport on Christmas Day, anticipating the long-awaited arrival of her son.

Once he arrives, she’ll return home to host Christmas dinner to dozens of relatives.

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Hussein’s son has been travelling for six weeks to visit his sister in Dubai, she said, but he’s coming home just in time for the holidays, and to celebrate his other sister’s birthday.

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Hussein, originally from Iraq, has called Ottawa home since 2010. This year, she’s got a fusion menu on deck for 32 of her brothers, sisters and other family members: turkey with dolma, or stuffed vegetables, sweet treats and more.

“It’s going to be busy, very busy,” she said with a smile. Hussein isn’t one to complain. She regularly wakes up at the crack of dawn for her job at Costco, and today she’s been up since 5 a.m., cooking and cleaning to prepare to host the holidays.

Mohammed Hussein was among the last passengers to disembark a flight from Newark, N.J. It was one of several flights that landed on time in Ottawa on Christmas Day. That’s in stark contrast to last year’s hectic holiday season, when airports across the country were embroiled in mayhem as bad weather from coast to coast caused flight delays, cancellations, lost luggage and other travel snafus. This year, unseasonably warm temperatures blanketed the capital in a very nearly green Christmas.

Not every family’s travel day was went as smoothy as Hussein’s, though.

Remi and Romain Verdier were checking the airport’s arrivals board, looking for a flight from Winnipeg that hadn’t showed up. The father and son pair landed in Ottawa from Paris the day prior, but now Roman Verdier said he was worried his sister’s flight was delayed.

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Remi and Romain Verdier were waiting at the Ottawa airport for their daughter and sister to arrive from Winnipeg. Once reunited, the family plans to see a Senators game and go to a museum. Photo by Marlo Glass /Postmedia

A student in Winnipeg, she recently turned 20, and the family was hoping to celebrate her birthday as well as Christmas. The family had planned to eat out, see Parliament Hill, take in a Senators game and visit museums, though they were somewhat disappointed with the capital’s lack of snow.

Lanhao Chen touched down in his new home on Christmas Day. An international student from China, he travelled for more than 50 hours straight. Photo by Marlo Glass /Postmedia

“In Winnipeg, there’s not a lot of things to do,” Remi Verdier said. “It’s better to visit the capital of Canada, and we’ll explore it together.”

Some weary travellers found it hard to remember what day it is. Lanhao Chen is an an international student at Algonquin College, studying practical nursing. He landed in Ottawa after a days-long expedition, having been in transit for more than 50 hours. His journey began in Xiamen, China, with a flight to Manila, Philippines, before arriving in Vancouver, then transferring to Toronto before landing in Ottawa.

“It’s a very long journey,” he said, adding he’s looking forward to settling into his new home and exploring the city.