According to a recent report by Cirium, only 52% of Air Canada’s flights arrived on time last month, earning it the last spot in the ranking of the top 10 major North American airlines in terms of punctuality. In comparison, Alaska Airlines claimed first place with 82% of its flights arriving on schedule. WestJet, on the other hand, ranked seventh with just under 62% of its flights reaching their destinations on time.
Air Canada attributed its poor ranking to the high demand for air travel, flights operating at near-full capacity, and staffing shortages in air traffic control that resulted in cancellations and delays. The airline also pointed out that unusual weather conditions in the U.S., where they operate a significant number of flights, further affected their performance. In fact, they experienced 26 days of significant weather events in July 2023, compared to 19 days in July 2019.
Despite these challenges, Air Canada acknowledged that delays are disappointing and stated that they do their best to avoid them. WestJet, on the other hand, cited weather conditions and third-party delays as contributing factors to their performance.
Transport Canada has yet to comment on this issue, but in April, the federal Liberals proposed legislation that would increase the maximum fine for violations of Air Passenger Protection Regulations to $250,000. The legislation also aims to hold airlines accountable for handling passenger complaints and compensating for delayed luggage.
Gábor Lukács, president of the Air Passenger Rights advocacy group, emphasized the need for airlines to face consequences for their performance in order to improve punctuality. He also called for the enhancement of the current passenger protection regulations to be more in line with European standards.
Both Air Canada and WestJet have implemented measures to minimize the impact of delays. Air Canada has made schedule adjustments during peak traffic and partnered with other carriers for additional support. WestJet has improved its boarding process efficiency and is working closely with handling partners on the ground.
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