The GTAA says that it will put “hard limits” on the number of flights that come through the airport
Before March Break and the summer travel season, Toronto’s Pearson Airport will put a “hard limit” on the number of flights arriving or departing during peak times.
The airport is run by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which says it will take a number of steps to “flatten peak-hour schedules.”
In a statement to CBC Toronto on Tuesday, GTAA spokesperson Rachel Bertone said, “These include hard limits on the number of commercial flights that can arrive or leave in any given hour, as well as limits on business and general aviation flights.”
“Also, steps have been taken to limit the number of people who can arrive from other countries or leave for the U.S. through each terminal in a given hour.”
The GTAA hasn’t said anything about the cap limits yet.
The authority also said that the new limits on the number of flights coming in and going out are meant to “strike a balance between airline commercial interests and the abilities of the entities across the entire airport ecosystem… to meet travel demand.”
Last year, there were a lot of problems at the airport. Flight delays, cancellations, and hours-long lines at security caused a lot of trouble for passengers.
The GTAA and airlines both said that the problems were caused by a lack of security screening staff, ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, and restrictions on how far planes could move.
The authority said Tuesday that it is “analyzing and optimizing” its staffing plans and doing more testing and training in key parts of the baggage system. It also says that it will install AI technology to streamline what is going on at all gates and notify ground handlers and baggage workers. This is to “reduce delays and make the most of the time planes spend at the gates.”