With travel demand high, Canada's airports and airlines vow this summer won't be so bad

Remember the images of travel from last summer and the more recent winter holidays? The lost bags, long waits on tarmacs and piles of luggage in arrivals? Some of Canada's airports are promising travellers those scenes won't be the norm this summer. "We have heard our customers," said Greater Toronto Airports Authority president and CEO Deborah Flint at Pearson International Monday. "The anxiety, the uncertainty, the frustration, and the lack of control that was felt by passengers last year is one that we will never forget." With almost all COVID-19-related travel restrictions lifted, it's expected that the pent-up desire to get away will result in even higher numbers of Canadians travelling by air over the coming months. "Demand is really, really strong," said travel agent Ken Stewart, owner of Crowfoot Travel Solutions in Calgary. "Everybody started to travel again last year. And those who didn't get away last year are adding to the numbers that are getting away this year." Stewart says that demand is being seen right across the board heading into summer — with people wanting to fly domestically, to the US, to Europe and even still to sun destinations. Pearson, Canada's largest airport, last summer saw overflowing baggage halls, stranded passengers, flight delays and cancellations. But Flint says things will be different this year. Last summer, on-time performance was at just 35%, she said. "Currently, our airlines are departing with 70% on-time performance statistics," she said. Over the past year, Pearson has hired 10,000 new employees — an increase of almost 22% — for a total of 50,000 workers — about on par with 2019 levels. That includes 130 new staff announced last week to help in critical areas at Pearson such as busing, baggage handling and terminal operations.<br/>