Extremely long waiting times for arriving and departing passengers at Toronto’s Pearson Airport are likely to continue until Labor Day, a former Air Canada executive said Wednesday.
“Chaos, messy, impossible, difficult,” were the words Duncan Dee used to describe the situation at Canada’s busiest airport.
“It’s not where you want to be,” Dee told CBC Radio’s Metro Morning.
Over the past two months, Pearson passengers have faced long lineup, delays, and cancellations, which some attribute to the continued restrictions on COVID-19 and labor shortages.
Dee says that while Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra has promised 400 new control officers as of the end of June, he doubts that will make a big difference.
“In terms of customs delays, until pandemic-era inspections are modified, I hate to think this is something that will affect us all summer long,” Dee said.
“Things should be a little easier for those who travel after Labor Day. Unfortunately, it’s also when schools come back that families can’t travel that much.”
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On Wednesday, Alghabra announced on Twitter that the Air Transport Security Authority of Canada has hired more than 850 new agents across Canada.
“This will help you overcome security more quickly and on your way to your destination,” he wrote in a tweet. “We will continue to work to reduce waiting times at airports.”
More help is on the way! Now pic.twitter.com/kdAEjhPRbg
– @ OmarAlghabra
“The greatest shame man knows”
The delays in Pearson drew attention this week after former professional hockey player Ryan Whitney used his frustration on social media on Monday after Air Canada canceled flights and allegedly had a minimum of ground staff to help affected passengers.
“This is the worst airport in the world, I tell you there is no other airport like this,” Whitney said in a video posted on Twitter.
“I’m so amazed at this place, it’s the biggest shame man knows.”
I live at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. The worst place on earth. I smell so bad. pic.twitter.com/PfdnHcO7Ad
– @ ryanwhitney6
Concern for travelers to avoid Canada
Meanwhile, Toronto business leaders held a press conference last month urging Ottawa to end the many-hour delays in Pearson.
They warned during that press conference that passengers would share their experiences with the rest of the world and this could negatively affect arrivals in the medium and long term.
“My concern is that this bad first impression will keep people from returning to Canada, or stories of bad experiences here at Toronto Airport will force travelers to consider other places and destinations,” said Edwin Frizzell, CEO of Fairmont. Royal York. that press conference.
Another business leader, Jan De Silva, president and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, said: “International passengers are forced to wait up to three hours, sometimes on the plane where they go. fly, due to longer processing times by customs agents “.
Edwin Frizzell, CEO of Fairmont Royal York, expressed concern in May that the poor first impression of Pearson Airport will prevent people from returning to Canada. (CBC)
Dee says leaving the COVID-19 test “will definitely help solve the arrival problems” at Pearson.
“Right now, according to airports, each passenger takes four times longer to be processed at customs, so if you remove these pandemic-era inspections, you will immediately see a four-fold decrease in the amount of time. “It takes 30 to 60 seconds per passenger instead of two or three minutes per passenger. That’s a huge, huge savings right there,” he said.
“From a safety standpoint, crew members, your flight attendants and pilots are inspected as if they were a passenger just out of the street, so leave it at that. only other countries do, but in Canada, we “I have decided that for some reason people who fly the plane that all passengers trust in their lives should be inspected and their fluids checked every time. passing through the airport, “Dee added.
In May, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority also called on Ottawa to urgently request the next step to help alleviate the situation at Pearson Airport. Among its recommendations:
- Streamline or eliminate inherited public health requirements for entry to Canadian airports.
- Eliminate random testing on arrival at Canadian airports and look for options such as community wastewater testing.
- Invest in government agency staff and technology to achieve globally competitive service level standards.
- Collaborate with the U.S. government to ensure that the staff and capacity of pre-authorization sites return to pre-pandemic levels.
In May, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority also called on Ottawa to take urgent action to help alleviate the situation at Pearson Airport. (Evan Mitsui / CBC)