Transport Minister Omar Algabra says airlines must take responsibility for the travel turbulence at airports across the country.
The federal government is trying to respond to scenes of endless queues, flight delays and daily airport disruptions – especially Pearson Airport in Toronto – a problem the aviation industry blames for a shortage of federal security and customs officials.
But Algabra told reporters today that “airlines also have a debt”, saying they must “keep to the end of the deal” to cancel flights and missing luggage.
John Gradek, head of McGill University’s aviation management program, says airlines have used Ottawa as a “scapegoat” while planning more flights than staff or resources, leading to delays and cancellations.
Fractures in one part of the airline could affect others, such as crowded customs zones stopping crews from getting off board, or a lack of airline customer service agents, exacerbating delays.
Algabra says the airport security agency has hired more than 900 inspectors since April, although many are still being trained.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 21, 2022
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