Half of domestic flights to Canada’s big airports delayed, cancelled last week
A majority of domestic flights to Canada’s busiest airports were delayed or cancelled over the past week as the effects of an overloaded international network continue to ripple across the country. Some 54% of flights to the four largest airports were bumped off schedule in the seven days between June 22 and 28, according to analytics firm Data Wazo. More than 44% of the 4,815 flights were delayed while 8.5% were scrapped altogether. Toronto’s Pearson airport topped the list, with 51%t of flights delayed — more than 700 — and 12% cancelled. Montreal was runner-up at 43% delayed and 15% cancelled. The other two airports were Vancouver and Calgary. Airlines and the federal government have been scrambling to respond to scenes of endless lines, flight disruptions, lost luggage and daily turmoil at airports _ particularly at Pearson _ a problem the aviation industry has blamed on a shortage of federal security and customs officers at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). John Gradek, head of McGill University’s aviation management program, says carriers have used Ottawa as a “scapegoat” while scheduling more flights than they have staff or planes to provide, resulting in delays and cancellations. “The airlines have lost some of their mojo,” he said. “The government has reacted and has pumped up the resources, and we’ve still got chaos.” Canada’s airport security agency has hired more than 900 screeners since April, though many remain in training. Ottawa also suspended randomized COVID-19 testing of vaccinated passengers on June 11 through at least Thursday following sector demands to process international travellers more quickly.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2022-06-30/general/half-of-domestic-flights-to-canada2019s-big-airports-delayed-cancelled-last-week
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/logo.png
Half of domestic flights to Canada’s big airports delayed, cancelled last week
A majority of domestic flights to Canada’s busiest airports were delayed or cancelled over the past week as the effects of an overloaded international network continue to ripple across the country. Some 54% of flights to the four largest airports were bumped off schedule in the seven days between June 22 and 28, according to analytics firm Data Wazo. More than 44% of the 4,815 flights were delayed while 8.5% were scrapped altogether. Toronto’s Pearson airport topped the list, with 51%t of flights delayed — more than 700 — and 12% cancelled. Montreal was runner-up at 43% delayed and 15% cancelled. The other two airports were Vancouver and Calgary. Airlines and the federal government have been scrambling to respond to scenes of endless lines, flight disruptions, lost luggage and daily turmoil at airports _ particularly at Pearson _ a problem the aviation industry has blamed on a shortage of federal security and customs officers at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). John Gradek, head of McGill University’s aviation management program, says carriers have used Ottawa as a “scapegoat” while scheduling more flights than they have staff or planes to provide, resulting in delays and cancellations. “The airlines have lost some of their mojo,” he said. “The government has reacted and has pumped up the resources, and we’ve still got chaos.” Canada’s airport security agency has hired more than 900 screeners since April, though many remain in training. Ottawa also suspended randomized COVID-19 testing of vaccinated passengers on June 11 through at least Thursday following sector demands to process international travellers more quickly.<br/>
