After chaotic 2022, how is Canada’s air travel sector shaping up for summer? – National | 24CA News
Canadian airports and airways are bracing for a scorching summer season journey season forward as they try to bounce again from the chaos of lengthy strains and delays that have been seen throughout the nation final yr.
Travellers may need a smoother experience this time round because the air journey sector rolls out a collection of measures, from hiring extra workers to technological developments.
There’s additionally elevated strain on accountability as strengthened air passenger rights measures proposed by the federal authorities loom.
With COVID-19 restrictions utterly lifted, enhancements at airports and higher staffing, “we’re in far better shape than we were before,” stated one journey insurance coverage dealer in Toronto.
“If there’s any bright light that’s come out of COVID, it’s that we have changed a lot of things right from passports to air travel and compensation,” stated Martin Firestone, president of Travel Secure Inc.
“The bottom line is, I think the traveller will notice an incredible difference this year.”
What to anticipate at airports
After a difficult summer season and winter, Toronto Pearson International Airport has boosted workers and carried out new know-how to enhance the passenger expertise, officers say.
Staffing has elevated considerably on the airport, with greater than 10,000 new employees since final summer season, bringing the entire to 50,000, Deborah Flint, president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, stated throughout a news convention on May 8.
The baggage system on the airport has been upgraded, that includes synthetic intelligence that detects potential breakdowns and overloading earlier than it happens, a GTAA assertion stated.
There can be new digital know-how at check-in, gates and baggage areas.
“Last summer was challenging for passengers, and we have responded with a full suite of process improvements and practices with our partners to deliver a more customer-centric and reliable experience,” stated Flint.
Montreal’s airport authority is anticipating the summer season passenger site visitors on the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to return to pre-pandemic ranges.
“We have revised the flight schedules in collaboration with the airlines, who have indicated that they have sufficient capacity and personnel to operate the schedules they have submitted,” stated Eric Forest, a spokesperson for Aéroports de Montréal (ADM).
In addition, enchancment tasks on the YUL’s baggage-handling techniques and connecting passenger services shall be accomplished in June, he advised Global News.
Given the excessive variety of passengers anticipated this summer season, Forest stated it’s potential that there shall be a “little more waiting than usual during peak hours, especially in the early morning and late afternoon and evening.”
At the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), officers are anticipating roughly 81,000 passengers a day over the summer season months. That’s roughly on par with pre-pandemic numbers, with August projected to be the busiest, stated a YVR spokesperson.
“We are also reviewing each area of our operations and service — from access to the airport, passenger drop off, check in, baggage, passenger processing, gates, and airfield movements — to match increased summer demand.”
The Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is encouraging passengers to fly continuous to keep away from prolonged layovers.
“It’s important to note that the flight path is interconnected with the rest of the world, and sometimes delays in one area may affect others,” a YEG spokesperson stated.
How are airways making ready?
Canadian airways are additionally hoping to keep away from a repeat of final summer season.
Air Canada, the nation’s flag service, says it’s “taking a prudent approach” to scheduling by flying much less over the summer season months as in comparison with 2019.
The airline advised Global News it has extra folks on workers than earlier than the pandemic in summer season 2019.
“We have added resources and taken other measures too, such as adjusting our schedule to create more connection time for customers and to flatten out peak flying periods during the day for better customer flow,” Air Canada stated in an emailed assertion.
Meanwhile, WestJet ticket holders may run into some issues this summer season with 1,600 of the airline’s pilots making ready to launch a strike as early as May 16 — the Tuesday forward of the May lengthy weekend, which generally kicks off the summer season journey season for hundreds whose itineraries may now be upended.
However, in an announcement to Global News this week, WestJet stated it continues to “proactively plan to mitigate any foreseeable challenges within our control.”
Edmonton-based Flair Airlines, which noticed 4 of its planes briefly seized over a dispute with its lessor in March, is including extra locations this summer season.
The ultra-low-cost service is providing new flights from Kamloops, B.C., London, Ont., and Quebec City, Que.
“It’s going to be a very hot summer for travel with Flair Airlines, if the spring demand is any indication,” stated Stephen Jones, CEO of Flair Airlines.
“We ask passengers to arrive at the airport early, and to be patient with everyone they encounter on their journey, who are all trying to do their best to help customers.”
The federal authorities is pushing for an overhaul of Canada’s passenger rights constitution amid a large backlog of complaints obtained by the Canadian Transportation Agency.
Last month, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra laid out measures to tighten loopholes to traveller compensation and toughen penalties.
If handed, the reforms will put the onus on airways to point out a flight disruption is attributable to security considerations or causes exterior their management, with particular examples to be drawn up by the transport company as a listing of exceptions round compensation.
— with information from Global News’ Ryan Rocca and The Canadian Press
