Luggage piles up, flights delayed at Pearson Airport in Mississauga
Published June 29, 2022 at 12:13 pm
As people return to travel reports of delays, families sleeping overnight on the airport floor and piles of luggage plague Pearson Airport in Mississauga.
“What we are seeing is the surge of demand for air for air travel beyond what anybody expected,” said Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra during a press conference at Pearson Airport on June 29. “…the surge of demand is outpacing the ability for airlines and airports to enhance the resources that they need to accommodate that surge.”
Recently, travellers have posted photos of luggage piling up on social media. It appears as staff are not able to deal with baggage from the incoming flights.
Lost your luggage at Pearson? Try domestic arrivals at Terminal 1 (this was at 2:50am). pic.twitter.com/o2My4b5qsV
— Jim Woodgett (@jwoodgett) June 29, 2022
Alghabra said the government is working with airport partners to add staff to catch up. They have added Canada Border Services Agency staff, and they adjusted public health measures to ease “bottlenecks.”
The government suspended random COVID-19 testing between June 11 and 30 – a temporary measure to address the congestion at airports. But Alghabra said they are committed to removing the testing completely off the airport premises.
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But issues continue.
Welcome to beautiful Toronto Pearson Airport where we take your money and lose your luggage 😩 Time for Change!@AirCanada @TorontoPearson#AirCanada #torontopearson #T1 #Terminal1 #behindthescens #bagroom #wheresmyluggage pic.twitter.com/Nt5DbDyL1n
— Pearson_Incognito (@PearsonIncogni2) June 29, 2022
“We continue to see delays, cancellations and luggage issue,” he said. “So our commitment is to continue to work with airlines to address these issues.”
Alghabra added that these “are unacceptable issues.”
“The government is doing everything we can and so far we’ve done everything that we can within our abilities, and now we’re working with airlines and airports to address those remaining issues.”
A report of a woman and her three children forced to sleep overnight on the floor of the airport because they didn’t get hotel vouchers shouldn’t have happened, the minister indicated.
“Our government brought in bill a Bill of Rights will have passengers right to ensure that air travellers have added levels of accountability and protection to ensure that their rights are protected,” said Alghabra. “I know airlines are also responsible for ensuring that their passengers are treated fairly equitably and justly and that people get the service that they paid for.”
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