'Chaotic situation' at Toronto Pearson as travellers wait in massive security lines
People flying out of Toronto Pearson International Airport are being warned about delays getting through security as travellers wait in massive lines to get onto their flights.
Airport spokesperson Tori Gass said in a statement Monday passengers need to "pack their patience" and arrive early as Toronto Pearson experiences "longer-than-expected" wait times at security checkpoints.
When asked about the cause for the delays, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) told CTV News Toronto they are experiencing issues with staffing.
"CATSA's screening contractors are not immune to the recruitment and retention challenges experienced by the broader commercial aviation industry," the CATSA said in a statement.
The agency said they are addressing the challenge for the future by ramping up staffing and continued information sharing with airline partners.
"Prior to the pandemic, resources could be cross-utilized more efficiently between the transborder and domestic and international checkpoints due to staggered passenger peaks," the CATSA said.
"As air travel recovers we are observing simultaneous peaks, which can result in passengers flooding more than one security checkpoint at a time, making the redistribution of resources to address these passenger volumes more challenging."
The CATSA said passengers are also increasingly opting to travel with more carry-on bags, which means longer processing times for travellers at security check points.
NDP MP Matthew Green said he was travelling through Toronto Pearson on Monday morning on his way back to Ottawa, and what he experienced was "an absolute gong show."
"Line up into the gate is at least 500-plus deep," Green wrote on Twitter. "There is no way I’m making this 8:10 Air Canada flight."
Green told CTV News Toronto he did not make his plane and was rescheduled to another flight later in the day.
Another traveller wrote on Twitter he has "never seen delays like this at Pearson."
"It's a chaotic situation. Police are helping to control the lines," Doug Asp wrote.
Gass said in the statement employees in the terminals are "doing their best" to process passengers through security.
"We kindly ask passengers to treat employees with respect," she said.
DELAYS COULD LAST WEEKS, TRANSPORT MINISTER SAYS
Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra was asked about the long lines at Toronto Pearson on Monday.
"I'm a traveller myself and I've seen line-ups grow over the last few weeks," Alghabra said. "I have been working and Transport Canada has been working with CATSA on ensuring that we have the adequate resources to respond to the surge of need for travellers."
He said Canadian airports are seeing "a lot of appetite for people to travel, quickly" and warned he doesn't think the federal government is going to be able to "immediately be able to resolve this."
"It's going to take some time to ramp up, so I think it's reasonable to assume a few weeks for us to get all the resources necessary."
The issue isn't unique to Toronto Pearson. Other Canadian airports, like Vancouver International Airport, are experiencing increased wait times as well.
HOW EARLY BEFORE SHOULD I ARRIVE BEFORE MY FLIGHT?
According to Toronto Pearson's website, passengers flying domestically should arrive at the airport 90 minutes before their flight.
For those travelling internationally, it is recommended that passengers arrive at least three hours before their scheduled departure time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Spain abolishes national bullfighting award in cultural shift
Spain scrapped an annual bullfighting award on Friday, prompting a rebuke from conservatives over a backlash against a centuries-old tradition they see as an art form but which has run into growing concern for animal welfare.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.