Air Canada pilot urges passengers to contact MPs over ongoing flight delays caused by air traffic controller shortage. Nav Canada ramps up training efforts.
A frustrated Air Canada pilot recently addressed passengers mid-flight, blaming an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers for the frequent delays plaguing Canada’s airports. The outburst occurred on a Vancouver-to-Montreal flight on Saturday, when the pilot announced a 50-minute delay — a moment captured in part by a CBC reporter on board.
“It’s very annoying,” the pilot told passengers. “It’s cost the company a lot of money. It costs business people a lot of money, and it would be great to have this addressed.”
He didn’t stop there. In a rare move, the pilot encouraged passengers to take action themselves.
“Please write your MP and let them know what’s going on and how it’s affecting your business or your leisure plans,” he urged, directly criticizing the staffing policies of Nav Canada — the private company responsible for air traffic control.
Ongoing Restrictions Impacting Flights
The pilot’s comments come amid persistent disruptions caused by “resource constraints,” as previously acknowledged by Nav Canada. An Air Canada spokesperson confirmed that operations at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) have been impacted for “several weeks.”
The spokesperson added that the delays were tied to restrictions imposed by Nav Canada, not the airline.
Meanwhile, Nav Canada denied the claim that they were deliberately keeping trainee numbers low to maintain overtime payouts. Instead, the agency says it is actively increasing its training capacity.
“We currently have close to 500 students within our training programs today,” a Nav Canada spokesperson said. “By 2028, we expect the total number of students who will have entered [Nav Canada’s] training program to be approximately 1,500.”
Industry Leaders Call for Collaboration
Industry leaders and unions say the shortage of air traffic controllers is a national concern that requires broad collaboration.
Tim Perry, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, expressed understanding toward both pilots and passengers dealing with delays.
“If we need more people at work, let’s direct our collective attention to doing that,” he said, emphasizing the need for a long-term, systemic solution.
“We really need to look to the future, work collaboratively with all the stakeholders,” Perry added. “That means government. That means labour representatives, and it means employers, to make sure that the entire system is staffed appropriately.”
Small Airlines Hit Hardest
Teara Fraser, CEO of Indigenous-owned airline Iskwew Air, highlighted the daily struggle for regional carriers. Her airline runs short 20–25 minute flights between Vancouver and Vancouver Island’s Qualicum Beach, yet even these routes are experiencing significant delays.
“We’re getting delays of anywhere between 20 minutes and two hours,” Fraser said. “When you are operating a 20-25 minute flight, that’s significant.”
She called on the federal government to invest more meaningfully in airports, service providers, and airlines to tackle this worsening issue.
Nav Canada Responds
In response to the widespread criticism, Nav Canada confirmed a temporary traffic management initiative was implemented on Saturday due to ongoing resource constraints. The company emphasized that it is working to significantly expand its training programs to meet increasing demand.
The spokesperson added, “Close to 40 licences for air traffic controllers had been issued in Vancouver over the last year, which is a clear sign of progress.”
While denying any allegations of unfair trainee dismissals, Nav Canada asserted that every candidate’s case is carefully reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel before training is halted.
“Certain specialties in Vancouver present some of the most complex training environments in the country, due to the intricate airspace structure and high traffic volumes,” the statement noted. “That said, our significant investments and efforts in training and development are yielding tangible results.”
Stay tuned to Maple News Wire for continued updates on this developing aviation story and more in-depth industry insights.
