Canada: turbulence in the aviation sector due to a lack of personnel

An Air Canada plane taking off from Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport in Montreal, June 30, 2022. © Graham Hughes/AP

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In Canada, the major air carriers are struggling to meet the high demand.

There is chaos at the country's largest international airports, in Toronto and Montreal.

Airlines have even announced that they will have to reduce the number of flights this summer due to severe staff shortages.

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With our correspondent in Montreal,

Delays, flight cancellations, Canadian airports are facing major labor shortages that have forced major airline Air Canada to cancel 154 flights a day this summer, and carrier Westjet announces it is canceling 25% of its flights.

The industry lacks pilots, flight and boarding attendants and struggles to recruit or retain staff due to often precarious and stressful working conditions.

The layoffs of the past two years have left a void that airports and carriers are struggling to fill.

On the ground, there is a shortage of border agents.

There is a lack of 20% in Montreal, 40% in Toronto.

Hiring was delayed during the pandemic and, their training extending to 20 weeks, the Minister of Transport ensures to do everything possible to speed up the process.

No return to normal for a month

Last week, the government set up an intervention group to find long-term solutions: 600 public servants were hired to manage the flood of passport applications, in particular, and 600 others are in the process of being hired.

Some health measures, such as random screening tests at airports, have been temporarily suspended to ease the pressure on airports.

The management of the Montreal airport estimates that the return to normal will take at least a month.

In the meantime, one in two people is at risk of being faced with a flight delay or cancellation.

►Also listen: Air transport under tension: "In France, the companies have been relatively cautious"

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• Canada

• Aeronautics

• Transportation

• Economic crisis