Toronto Mayor John Tory says delays and long flights to Pearson International Airport are “unacceptable.”
“It’s not just about people taking vacations, it’s about them, it’s also about trade and economy and jobs and investment and reputation and this airport needs to be fixed,” Tory said Tuesday.
The mayor’s comments come a day after former NHL player Ryan Whitney posted a candid online video recounting his experience at Pearson while trying to travel to Boston.
“I’m in such a state of shock on this site,” he said in the video, which has drawn a lot of attention to Twitter.
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Travel advisor Christiane Cormier said passengers moving through Pearson this week and throughout the summer should be “prepared and patient.”
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Cormier said people should arrive on their flights at least three hours earlier than planned, “maybe even four if you go to Pearson.”
“Arrive at the airport as soon as humanly possible, make sure you check in online if possible the day before … make sure you have all your personal information and your passport so that when you arrive at the airport “You can use the self-service kiosks at the airport, pick up your bag labels, drop off your bags and head to safety,” he said.
There have been delays and long waits in Pearson since April, with the airport and airlines reporting staffing issues and increased travel demand.
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Travel experts point out that there are certain days and times during the week that are usually less crowded at airports.
Flying mid-week on a Tuesday or Wednesday should be less busy than a Monday, which is a popular day to fly for business travelers, while those traveling for pleasure usually go to airports on Fridays. Also, evenings after 6pm are generally less crowded than early in the morning.
“It’s customs, it’s the airport, it’s the airlines, it’s everyone. They’re just struggling to get staff, ”Cormier said of the cause of the travel chaos.
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He said passengers should know their rights in case of cancellation or delay of their flight.
“If there are some responsible parties, they should also pay the bill,” said Gabor Lukacs, a Canadian air passenger rights advocate.
He described the situation at Pearson Airport as “challenging” and also suggested that passengers be provided with as much information as possible so that they can take action.
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“It’s the responsibility of the airline, first and foremost, because they have to have the right staff at their desks and they also have to make sure they don’t sell more tickets than the number of passengers and flights that the airport is able to handle. So my first question will be to the airlines, “he said.
The next question, he said, is at airports.
“You said, ‘Go ahead, will we?’ Or did you just not communicate? To the extent that this is a matter for government personnel, the government must be held accountable. People lost money, lost on travel, someone has to pay for it and it shouldn’t be public. I don’t think the public has done anything wrong, “he said.
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