Canada has been ranked worst in the world for flight delays and airport congestion.
Air Canada (AC) had the most delays of any airline over the long weekend, with two-thirds
(67%) of its flights — 717 trips — landing late on June 2 and 3, according to tracking service
FlightAware.
Jazz Aviation, a Halifax-based carrier that provides regional service for Air Canada, and low-
cost Air Canada Rouge, both saw 53% of their flights delayed, putting them in the number two
spot alongside Greek regional airline Olympic Air.
On June 2, WestJet and its budget subsidiary Swoop placed third and fourth on the list of global
flight delays with 55% of trips landing off schedule.
In terms of airport congestion, Toronto’s Pearson International was ranked second worst with
53% of departures delayed, below only China’s Guangzhou airport. Pearson, Air Canada’s main
flight hub, beat out Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France and Frankfurt Airport in Germany.
Montreal’s Trudeau airport placed sixth with 43% of takeoffs delayed, tied with London’s
Heathrow airport, according to data from FlightAware.
Air Canada said last week that it is cutting more than 15% of its summer schedule, or nearly
10,000 flights in July and August, due to a travel resurgence. Passenger levels at Canadian
airports are now back to 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
Air Canada has hired nearly 3,000 workers at airports and in customer service this year,
bringing its payroll to more than 32,000 people.
The federal government in Ottawa has been hiring security and customs officers, adding more
than 1,000 new screeners at Canadian airports since April.
Air Canada stock is down 27% year to date at $16.23 per share.