'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
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.