TORONTO, July 18, 2023 /CNW/ – Today, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (“GTAA”), Deborah Flint, provided Toronto Pearson International Airport’s (“Toronto Pearson”) mid-summer performance update.
Since last summer, Toronto Pearson has tangibly improved passenger experience across its operations, implemented digital innovations and bolstered staffing. These advancements have expedited check-in and boarding processes, reduced wait times and upgraded baggage infrastructure.
As a testament to these improvements, Toronto Pearson was recently informed that it has secured the top position in the Airports Council International (ACI) Large Airport Category for Q2.
These enhancements have yielded significant results compared to the summer of 2022:
- On-time performance: Toronto Pearson currently ranks 17th in the on-time performance global ranking published by Flight Aware versus last place (1st) at the height of the industry restart. At this time last summer, OTP was 35%. In recent weeks, it has touched as high as 74.5%.
- Baggage: Airlines manage baggage delivery, but Toronto Pearson has made it an ongoing focus for collaborative improvement. The average wait time for all bags arriving at the carousel from July 3 to 9 was 20, compared to 26 minutes last year. During the week of July 10 to 16, baggage service availability at Terminals 1 and 3 was 99.3 and 98.7%, respectively.
- Gate holds: For the week of July 3 to 9, there was just one flight where passengers were held on the aircraft at a Toronto Pearson gate. The aircraft was held for nine minutes. This situation represents a marked improvement over last summer when holding passengers at the gate was a regular practice due to overcrowding in the customs hall – the same week last year saw 34 flights with an average hold time of 10 minutes.
- Security wait times: As passengers have experienced, international and domestic security wait times at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 are significantly improved since last summer. The most recent data from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) for the week of July 3 to 9 indicates that 91 per cent of passengers cleared security in less than 15 minutes.
- Customs wait times: Wait times to enter Canada at Toronto Pearson’s customs halls are significantly and noticeably faster than last summer. Currently, the average wait time for passengers at customs is seven minutes.
“I am proud of the exceptional teamwork demonstrated by the Toronto Pearson team leading up to the summer season, which has collectively strengthened the overall resilience of our ecosystem. Our ranking as No. 1 in ASQ Customer Quality in Q2 across North America reflects the strong foundation of Toronto Pearson, even as the industry globally continues to face challenges from the pandemic,” said Deborah Flint, President and CEO of the GTAA. “The tangible improvements in Toronto Pearson’s performance go beyond mere recovery but lead us toward a future airport with more choices and excellent customer experiences. Day in and day out, employees across the ecosystem show Toronto Pearson’s unwavering commitment to delivering a seamless and enjoyable air travel experience.”
The past year has seen significant improvements at Toronto Pearson attributable to the GTAA’s commitment to enhancing passenger experience. The effective rollout of the YYZ Express program and the successful collaboration with United States Customs and Border Protection and Canada Border Services Agency, facilitated by the introduction of tools like Mobile Passport Control and Advance Declaration, have expedited departure and arrival experiences.
By prioritizing digital and technological innovations, making strategic staffing enhancements and fostering improved collaboration with government agencies, the GTAA has significantly elevated Toronto Pearson’s performance metrics and its perception. A recent survey by Pollara found that 75% of travellers who have passed through Toronto Pearson Airport over the past year are satisfied with their experience. These positive feelings are partly driven by increased usage of new digital tools at the airport, including a live wait times dashboard, interactive digital maps, and YYZ Express.
The GTAA collaborates with airline and agency partners as intermittent delays and cancellations occur due to weather, supply-chain issues and labour shortages. While the airport does not control every facet of the passenger experience, it remains committed to working with all relevant parties to enhance air travel in Canada.
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 three years running, and Toronto Pearson was the first Canadian airport to receive ACI’s global health accreditation for its response to COVID-19.