CALGARY-
An MP says Ottawa may have underestimated Canadians’ desire to travel when planning for a return to normal after most pandemic-related restrictions end.
Airlines and airports have grappled with a surge in customers this summer, compounded by staffing shortages affecting both carriers and federal agencies.
As a result, travelers faced numerous flight cancellations, baggage delays and long lines, especially at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Last month, due to a glitch, the ArriveCan app asked about 10,200 travelers to self-quarantine for 10 days when they didn’t have to.
Annie Koutrakis, the parliamentary secretary to the transport minister, told reporters in Calgary on Tuesday that planning for a return to normal was a bit short.
“We anticipated. Yes, the planning started. What we unfortunately underestimated was the desire that everyone wanted to travel and everyone wanted to travel at the same time,” Koutrakis said.
“The data shows us that we didn’t expect everyone to start traveling to the extent that they have. It’s not like we’re waiting and planning behind the scenes to be ready for that. It’s just that more could have been done.”
Koutrakis said it was the first time the government had gone through a pandemic like COVID-19 and there were lessons to be learned.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra was asked about the delays at a House of Commons committee last week.
Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman asked him if the feds were responsible and Alghabra replied, “I blame COVID.” He pointed to labor shortages as the main contributor to the delays.
Koutrakis said the data indicates that abandoning the ArriveCan app would increase delays and bottlenecks and that removing the mask mandate would not reduce wait times.
Koutrakis announced nearly $2 million to help Calgary International Airport improve current and future flight schedules and connection times between flights, as well as establish dedicated lanes to enable physical distancing.
There were no representatives from any of the airlines during the announcement. But Bob Sartor, president and CEO of the Calgary Airports Authority, said carriers are having the same problems hiring enough staff.
“The reality is that they are facing to a greater extent the issues that we face at YYC and that is the need for additional staff. They have done what we have done as an airport and they have significantly reduced their staff during the pandemic,” Sartor said.
Sartor said recertifying pilots and obtaining personnel security clearances can take months.
“Sometimes it can take two or three months. There are things that have to happen, and one of the things is we have to get pilots certified. We have to recruit more people like the air carriers are doing,” Sartor said.
“If we ever have one of these Black Swan events – and I pray we don’t – we need a consolidated plan to restart the aviation sector.”
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 23, 2022.