The number of commercial flights permitted to arrive or depart from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) will be limited during peak travel seasons, according to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA). The decision also reportedly regulates the number of international passengers allowed at the airport.
The move comes as several airports are planning to avoid controllable delays, cancellations, long lines, or lost luggage due to the influx of travelers during busy travel periods. Last year, the resurgence of air travel demand paired with low staffing caused chaos at some airports.
Reducing the number of travelers
According to Reuters, the GTAA confirmed that it would cap the number of passengers that can arrive internationally or depart to the United States through each terminal in a given hour.
"The GTAA has taken decisive measures designed to flatten peak-hour schedules for the March break and the upcoming summer season," the authority said. "These slot measures strike a balance between airline commercial interests and the capabilities of the entities across the entire airport ecosystem."
The authority has yet to provide further information on what the limitations will be set at.
Canada's largest airline, Air Canada, reportedly said the GTAA's limits were accounted for in flight schedules, but low-cost carrier and rival WestJet said the caps have created challenges and adjustments have been required to plan its transborder and international flying.
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A rough year
Last year, YYZ Airport, alongside the airlines that operate out of it, experienced a number of operational challenges starting in spring and continuing into the summer months that resulted in unprecedented delays, a significant amount of lost baggage, and a slew of cancellations, according to CTV News Toronto.
The decision to cut back flights during busy periods is timely for YYZ Airport. Last July, the airport was reportedly voted the worst major airport in the world due to delays. Two months later, it was voted the fourth-worst in the world for overall satisfaction.
In December 2022, the airport made headlines again after hundreds of passengers were separated from their luggage due to a baggage backlog caused by extreme weather that canceled and delayed flights.
Finding solutions
YYZ is working to combat future flight issues with a new system that is meant to reduce delays and optimize the time planes spend at gates, according to GTAA Senior Communications Advisor Tori Gass.
"We are working to install technology that recognizes what's happening at all gates and sends alerts to the relevant stakeholders," Gass said to CTV News Toronto.
Canada has also been hit with a shortage of air traffic controllers due to the pandemic, but as demand has bounced back, more workers have been hired. To account for recent US and Canadian border agents and air traffic controller staffing levels, the GTAA has reportedly constrained transborder flights for several months.
NAV Canada, an air traffic control manager, currently employs about 1,900 air traffic controllers in the country. According to Reuters, there were around 1,700 controllers in late 2021 compared to about 2,000 before the pandemic.
Sources: Reuters, CTV News Toronto