Air traffic controller shortages plagued Vancouver International Airport (YVR) over the start of the Canada Day long weekend, resulting in numerous flight delays and cancellations.
YVR spokesperson Reena Gacad Kirkpatrick told V.I.A. the airport saw 219 delays and 23 cancellations due to Nav Canada staffing shortages on Saturday and Sunday (June 28 and 29). Nav Canada is Canada’s air navigation service provider, keeping the skies safe for the travelling public.
"We recognize the inconvenience to travellers and worked with agency partners to ensure passengers were well supported. Our Guest Experience team and Green Coat volunteers were present in-terminal, food and beverage options were available well past their scheduled hours, and border security extended to ensure passengers could get screened closer to their actual flight times," she said.
Over the past 24 hours, only one flight was cancelled due to a Nav Canada staffing shortage. The remainder were related to "airline-specific issues," Kirkpatrick explained.
Monday is tracking to be YVR's busiest day of the week, with roughly 88,000 travellers.
"Our operations, including staffing levels, are prepared to handle upwards of 95,000," she noted, adding that Nav Canada is no longer experiencing staffing issues.
Flights are operating normally as scheduled at YVR. However, other routine issues, such as a specific airline's mechanical problems or inclement weather in another city, may impact schedules.
"As such, we may see some changes to flight schedules throughout the day," she notes.
FlightAware's online flight tracker shows 20 flights have been cancelled in the last 24 hours.
According to YVR's departures page, 29 flights are delayed and eight are cancelled. However, the airport doesn't specify the cause of delays or cancellations.
The airport's arrivals page showed a staggering 29 delays and no cancellations as of early Monday afternoon.
Passengers should continue to check the latest flight information with their airline or with YVR online.
YVR delays: Nav Canada implements TMI to facilitate safety
Nav Canada spokesperson Maryam Amini told V.I.A. that a temporary Traffic Management Initiative (TMI) was implemented at the airport on Saturday and Sunday due to staffing shortages.
"We understand and regret the impact that air traffic flow restrictions and delays have on the flying public, our airline partners, and airport authorities," she said.
The department is no longer experiencing "significant constraint" related to staffing resources, she added.
When the number of aircraft at a part of the airport exceeds capacity, air traffic controllers space out flights to "keep it manageable," most often reducing or "metering" the number of aircraft. In these instances, delays are necessary to maintain the safety of staff and travellers, Nav Canada explains on its website.
Nav Canada continues to recruit, train, and license new air traffic controllers at an accelerated pace. However, the process to receive full qualification is "extensive," requiring 24 to 36 of various instruction, simulation, and training, Amini added.
Passengers should check the status of their flight with their airlines and are encouraged to check YVR's X/Twitter account for the most up-to-date information.
Nav Canada air traffic controller shortages have plagued YVR with flight delays and cancellations since April.
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