Flight delays at Canada’s busiest airports down 85% this summer

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Thompson/PostmediaCanadian travellers suffered significantly fewer flight delays this summer than they did last year, reports air navigation system operator NAV Canada.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountBetween May and August, flight delays at Toronto Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau, Calgary and Vancouver airports were down roughly 85 per cent compared to last year, NAV Canada said Tuesday.All four of the major airports improved, with Vancouver achieving the biggest drop in delays from 4.42 per cent of flights to 0.64 per cent.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.NAV Canada, a not-for-profit company that provides air traffic control, airport advisory services, weather briefings and aeronautical information services across the country, said investments made prior to the busy season paid off as improvements in service held until the end of summer.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. 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Please try againAugust is typically the most challenging month of year as hot weather and peak demand put pressure on the system, but performance remained steady through Labour Day, it said.“Today we can say they upheld that standard through the most demanding stretch of the year,” said NAV Canada chief of operations Marie-Pier Berman. “NAV CANADA’s air traffic controllers, flight service specialists and support teams across the country stepped up, shift after shift, and the credit is theirs.”The company, which employs more than 2,800 air traffic service professionals, took steps this year to maximize operations coverage, including management temporarily returning to frontline duties and maintaining contracts with more than 50 rehired retired controllers.There were more air traffic service workers in the system than at any point since the pandemic and this initiative helped reduce flight delays. The proportion of scheduled flights impacted fell from 1.54 per cent in 2025 to 0.24 per cent in 2026.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.NAV efforts narrowed the controller staffing gap over the season, to about 170 controllers below target as of Aug. 31, from approximately 200 in the spring.“The staffing rebuild continues, the fall and winter bring their own demands, and readiness has never meant promising that no disruption will ever occur,” said Berman.The four airports also handled 0.9 per cent more flights this summer compared to the same period in 2025.We apologize, but this video has failed to load.This advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.