Poll: 70% say troubles at Pearson Airport in Mississauga, other airports a ‘national embarrassment’
Published July 22, 2022 at 3:38 pm
Seven out of 10 Canadians believe the situation at Pearson Airport in Mississauga and other airports across the country is an “embarrassment to Canada,” a recent national poll shows.
The Ipsos poll, conducted July 12-13, also shows that 58 per cent of Canadians appear to be avoiding airports these days given ongoing problems of delayed and cancelled flights, lost luggage, huge lineups and, at times, a general environment of chaos.
Many say they are going to cancel or put off their travel plans until problems plaguing the airports have been resolved, or at least eased.
The poll also revealed that 64 per cent of people aged 55 and older say they want nothing at all to do with airports right now.
In terms of who’s to blame for the airport mess, poll respondents say there’s plenty of blame to go around.
Asked about overall delays, those who took part in the poll believe the federal government, airports and the airlines are all responsible for keeping passengers waiting long hours in airports.
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Specific to flight delays or cancellations, 44 per cent of respondents blamed the airlines.
“Regardless of who is to blame, Canadians are split on whether these challenges are temporary or longer-term,” Ipsos said in a review of the poll results. “A slim majority (55 per cent) agrees that the airport travel issue is a temporary glitch and that they expect everything to be back to normal by September. Conversely, nearly half (45 per cent) disagree and foresee these issues lasting beyond the summer months.”
Pearson and other airports across Canada and North America have faced challenges the past few months as they deal with ongoing problems getting people through the air travel hubs in timely fashion.
Staff shortages combined with unexpectedly large numbers of people returning to air travel after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted earlier this year have overwhelmed airports.
Several weeks ago, both Air Canada and Pearson Airport ranked close to or at the top of lists of most flight delays anywhere in the world. Air Canada was first among carriers while Pearson was second on the airports list.
Other poll findings:
- 43 per cent say Canada is doing a better job than most other countries in dealing with airport travel issues
- 37 per cent believe the federal government is doing enough to address flight delays and cancellations
- 35 per cent believe the airlines are doing enough about flight delays and cancellations
- 52 per cent agree that the quick rebound in travel demand after the lifting of pandemic restrictions earlier this year could not have been predicted, and so it’s understandable airports are currently overwhelmed
- 39 per cent say Ottawa, airports, airlines and Canadian travellers themselves equally share in the blame for travel delays overall
- if one single entity is to be blamed, respondents pointed the finger at the federal government (22 per cent), airlines (18 per cent), airports (13 per cent) and Canadian travellers (8 per cent).