Canadian Air Travel Crisis: Delays and Cancellations Soar in 2023

2023-07-02 20:03:03

We are in a much better position than last year, replied the Canadian Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra, questioned Friday morning on the situation in airports this summer.

Yet as of Thursday, every airline in the country was experiencing significant delay and cancellation rates. In Montreal, for example, 78% of scheduled flights were affected. This is not only much more than normal (between 15 and 20%), but also much more than the average for the summer of 2022 (just over 50%), yet disastrous for Canadian travelers.

Three of the Canadian airports were in the top 10 worst airports in the world for delays, recalls Jacob Charbonneau, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Late Flight.

This bodes ill for the 2023 summer season, which has only just begun, said John Gradek, director of McGill’s aviation management program.

“We have not reached the worst of the peak period, which began last week, June 15, and continues until September. It’s gonna get more and more serious […] The demand will be higher. The impact of the delays will be much more intense than what we see at the moment. »

— A quote from John Gradek, Director of McGill’s Aviation Management Program

A continuing staff shortage

After the setbacks of the summer of 2022, Canadian airports and airlines have hired as many people as possible. We have a lot more staff than last year, assures Mr. Gradek. But it was impossible to fill all the positions of air traffic controllers, which are essential to the proper functioning of the network.

Aviation is like an orchestra, compares John Gradek. Everyone has to work together to have an operation that sticks. All members of the orchestra must play the same song. If a few members are unable to play, the whole orchestra is out of balance.

John Gradek observes that the airline industry made the same mistake as in 2022: We overloaded the system once more. We are in the same trap as last summer.

Added to this are occasional difficulties which hamper the proper functioning of the air network.

There have been a few problems in recent weeks, particularly at Air Canada, which has had problems with its computer systems, underlines Mr. Charbonneau. There was also a storm in the United States last week which had a domino effect on Canadian flights.

Some of Air Canada’s planes are grounded due to a computer problem. Minister Omar Alghabra indicated that it was a difficulty relating to the update of the systems.

Photo: The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette

These problems are exacerbated by staff shortages. As soon as a situation has a domino effect, there are fewer relief teams.

And according to the CEO of Late Flight, this staffing issue will persist for the next few years.

Solutions?

In the short term, there are few solutions available to Canadian travellers. John Gradek, however, suggests that those who have not yet bought their plane tickets give preference to morning flights, which are generally less affected than late followingnoon flights. The later in the day you travel, the more likely the flight will be delayed.

Jacob Charbonneau ensures that the federal government is investing in the sector, in particular to improve the situation and hire more people. Moreover, Minister Alghabra announced Friday morning the construction of a new facility at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport for people traveling to the United States, a project worth $30 million.

The situation should also improve towards the end of September for travelers wanting to obtain compensation for a delayed or canceled flight, assures Mr. Charbonneau.

According to him, changes to current regulations should now prevent air carriers from almost systematically refusing to compensate their customers. We saw it at the time of the computer breakdowns at Air Canada, when it was announced that it did not give the right to compensation, when in fact it should give the right to it.

Currently, a traveler who is denied compensation can turn to the Canadian Transportation Agency.

“And there, the delays are very long: we get what we are entitled to following 18 or 24 months. »

— A quote from Jacob Charbonneau, co-founder and CEO of Late Flight

According to the changes to the regulations, there should be additional costs for carriers if the files go to the Canadian Transportation Agency, which should discourage them from systematically refusing requests.

And when the files go to the Office, the burden of proof will be reversed: it will now be up to the carrier to explain why he should not pay the compensation.

Finally, Minister Alghabra obviously advises travelers to find out regarding delays and cancellations before going to the airport.

With information from Marie Isabelle Rochon

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