Flights at Toronto Pearson Airport could be delayed on Monday because of ongoing issues at an airport in the U.S.
Over the past seven days, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey has experienced significant delays due to a reported shortage of certified air traffic controllers.
According to CNN, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a Ground Delay Program on Sunday, and flights were delayed an average of almost four hours in the evening.
The issue has worsened with over 20% of air traffic controllers at Newark Airport walking off the job last week, according to the CEO of United Airlines Scott Kirby.
In a statement on Friday, Kirby said that the technology air traffic controllers rely on to manage the airplanes coming in and out of the airport failed. This was compounded by the staff walk-off.
“Keep in mind, this particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years and without these controllers, it’s now clear — and the FAA tells us — that Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead,” said Kirby.
Kirby also said these challenges are not new to Newark, as his company has been urging the U.S. government for years to limit the number of flights to what the airport “can realistically handle”.
In a post on X on Monday morning, Toronto Pearson said they expect 125,000 passengers to pass through the airport throughout the day.
“Over the next seven days, we’re anticipating around 863,000 travellers in total — that’s about the same as the entire population of New Brunswick,” they wrote.
“This morning, we’re keeping an eye on some spring weather in the Maritimes, and south of the border, the FAA is reporting potential ground delay programs in the U.S. Northeast, which could affect some flights later this morning.”
Meanwhile, the Fire and Emergency Services Training Institute will also conduct a training exercise at the airport until 3 p.m. on Monday.
“As a result, you may see plumes of smoke coming from where this training is being held,” Toronto Pearson said in a post on X.
If you are travelling out of Toronto Pearson on Monday, be mindful that there may be some delays.
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