Greater Toronto Airports Authority thanks federal government for progress on agency delays, urges for a temporary pause to COVID-19 testing at airports.

With the start of the busy summer travel period just days away, immediate action is required to address continued delays for inbound travellers

TORONTO, June 9, 2022 /CNW/ - The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) thanks the federal government and Ministers Alghabra, Duclos, Mendicino and Boissonnault for their commitment to reduce delays for arriving and departing passengers at Canada's hub airports, and for the progress that has been achieved. Their response to our request for the addition of more Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers is making a difference.

The recognition that more work is required by the Government to address international arrivals is also welcome. In a few days, international passenger numbers are set to increase by 50 per cent. In anticipation of a new wave of business and family travellers we urge the government to act immediately to temporarily pause random testing on arrival in airports for an immediate improvement until upgrades to the Government's ArriveCan app have been made.

In May of this year, 2,700 arriving flights were affected by metering or holding, affecting the travel plans of over 490,000 international arriving passengers. Travellers are being further delayed because of the time it takes to select passengers for random testing.

The GTAA is collaborating with the Government on concrete solutions and is taking every conceivable step to ensure the airport is ready this summer, including hiring additional staff. CBSA and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority have made 25 additional kiosks available in the customs hall areas at the Toronto Pearson International Airport. The GTAA has also completed upgrades to the baggage system.  

"The stakes have never been higher, and the world is watching," said Deborah Flint, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), GTAA. "We're thankful for the steps that the federal government has taken and their recognition that more needs to be done. This is about much more than Toronto Pearson; it's about global perceptions of our country and the risk that Canada will lose billions of dollars from tourism and business activities if travellers decide that coming to Canada this summer simply isn't worth the hassle."

"Toronto Pearson's challenges are unique simply due to scale by virtue of the fact that we are Canada's largest airport and global hub for connectivity all over the world, with much higher volumes of passengers and, importantly, more international passengers than any other Canadian airport," Flint continued. "We are committed to collaborating with all partners to implement concrete solutions."

About the Greater Toronto Airports Authority

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority is the operator of Toronto – Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Canada's largest airport and a vital connector of people, businesses and goods. Toronto Pearson has been named "Best Large Airport in North America serving more than 40 million passengers" for five years in a row by Airports Council International (ACI), the global trade representative of the world's airports. In recognition of its Healthy Airport program, ACI has also awarded Toronto Pearson the "Best hygiene measures in North America" award for two years running, and Toronto Pearson was the first Canadian airport to receive ACI's global health accreditation for its response to COVID-19.

For our corporate twitter channel, please visit @PearsonComms. For operational updates and passenger information, please visit @TorontoPearson/@AeroportPearson on Twitter. You can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

SOURCE Greater Toronto Airports Authority

GTAA Media Office, [email protected], [phone]