Montreal – Air Canada experienced significant disruptions over the Canada Day long weekend, with nearly 2,000 flights delayed or cancelled, potentially foreshadowing more challenges for passengers in the future.
FlightAware data reveals that approximately 52% of Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, and Jazz Aviation flights were affected between Saturday and Monday, in contrast to other Canadian airlines like WestJet, Air Transat, and Flair Airlines, which reported lower levels of flight disruption.
Social media posts showcased long queues and crowded terminals at major airports in Toronto and Montreal, as frustrated passengers expressed their grievances regarding late departures and customer service, reminiscent of the chaotic scenes observed post-pandemic a year ago.
This incident occurred during the peak summer travel season, with Air Canada accommodating around 600,000 passengers between Friday and Monday. However, the number of disruptions has been progressively increasing over the past few weeks, according to John Gradek, an aviation management program instructor at McGill University. The crowded flight schedules and crew shortages associated with peak season make it challenging to find replacement planes or pilots when unexpected issues arise.
Peter Fitzpatrick, spokesperson for Air Canada, acknowledged that a network running at full capacity takes longer to recover from setbacks. He also cited thunderstorms in the Montreal area and the United States as contributing factors to the weekend’s problems, with issues in the US affecting Air Canada disproportionately due to its status as the largest foreign carrier to the country.
Air Canada stated that it is fully staffed, with more employees than in the summer of 2019, despite operating fewer flights. The airline has relied on tightly packed schedules and a reduced number of planes to accommodate the ongoing recovery of flight demand, particularly in long-haul international and commercial travel, which are areas where Air Canada has a significant presence.
FlightAware reported that on Monday, Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, and Jazz flights achieved on-time departure rates of 50% to 54% nationwide, although the figure was lower at Toronto’s Pearson airport. In contrast, WestJet achieved a 77% on-time rate nationwide and 72% from Pearson, while Air Transat achieved rates between 60% and 85% throughout the long weekend.
Factors contributing to the discrepancy between Air Canada and its competitors include issues faced by codeshare partner United Airlines, which experienced the highest percentage of flight disruptions among major US carriers. Air Canada is also affected by air traffic control shortages, both in the US and Canada, resulting in delayed landings and increased flight crew working hours. Late arrivals also leave less time for preventative maintenance, leading to mechanical problems and subsequent delays.
Former Air Canada chief operating officer Duncan Dee warned that if these issues persist, similar challenges may arise in late July and early August. Furthermore, recent storms primarily affected Air Canada’s operations in Central Canada and the US Northeast, placing the airline at a greater disadvantage compared to its western-focused competitor, WestJet.
Nav Canada confirmed that there were no delays related to the country’s air navigation service at Pearson or Trudeau airports during the weekend, unlike the previous period.