85% of passengers can pass security screening in 15 minutes at Pearson Airport in Mississauga
Published August 31, 2022 at 12:24 pm
Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra insists things are improving for travellers at Pearson Airport in Mississauga and other airports across the country.
At a news conference this week, Alghabra, also MP for Mississauga Centre, said while any lingering problems of flight delays, huge lineups and lost luggage are unacceptable, the situation is getting better.
He noted that hiring and coordination among the airlines, government agencies and others responsible for running Pearson and other airports have helped cut down on delayed or cancelled flights and problems with travellers finding their luggage.
Pearson has been plagued for months now by flight delays and cancellations, lost luggage, lengthy waits/delays inside terminals and other issues that have angered and frustrated tens of thousands of travellers using Canada’s busiest airport since the spring.
Airports and airlines in Canada and abroad have been faced with a huge surge in business this summer after people returned to air travel in unexpectedly huge numbers since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in the spring.
Problems at the airports have been compounded by staffing shortages affecting both airlines and federal agencies.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra
Pearson Airport, through which half of Canada’s international travellers pass, has been the hardest hit. A recent study showed it had the most flight delays of any airport in the world between the end of May and July 19.
However, the numbers–and travellers’ experiences–have been improving, Ottawa says.
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Alghabra said 85 per cent of passengers are now able to pass through security screening in 15 minutes at Pearson and the number of passengers forced to wait on board planes on the tarmac is at two per cent.
In July, that figure sat at 18 per cent.
Additionally, the transport minister noted, contractors employed by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority have hired 1,800 new workers. Also, the federal government has sped up worker security clearances and allowed trainees to perform regular duties to help deal with the shortage.
With most Canadian airlines flying about 80 per cent of their pre-pandemic schedules, passenger volumes have risen by more than 250 per cent since January, Alghabra pointed out, adding the challenge is daunting.
“These numbers have climbed while the aviation industry around the world continues to struggle with staffing up in a challenging labour market,” he said.
GTAA CEO Deborah Flint
A couple of weeks ago, the head of an embattled Pearson Airport vowed to continue fixing major issues that have plagued Canada’s largest airport.
In a news conference at the airport, Greater Toronto Airports Authority CEO Deborah Flint said improvements are being made to reduce the number of delayed and cancelled flights, get travellers through the airport faster and connect passengers more quickly with their luggage.
She promised that airport officials and their partners with the airlines and federal government will continue to address the issues to improve the travel experience for passengers and once again position Pearson as an internationally respected and award-winning airport.
Flint said the situation airports are facing is historic in aviation history. Airports and airlines were caught off guard by the large numbers of people who returned to air travel so quickly once pandemic restrictions were eliminated earlier this year.
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