NAV CANADA achieved a 91% year-over-year reduction in flight delays attributed to its operations at Canada’s four busiest airports—Toronto Pearson, Montréal-Trudeau, Calgary, and Vancouver International—during the peak summer period from May 1 to July 7, 2026, encompassing the FIFA World Cup hosted in Toronto and Vancouver.
Zero NAV CANADA Traffic Management on FIFA Match Days
Throughout the 13 FIFA World Cup matches held between June 12 and July 7, 2026, NAV CANADA did not issue any traffic management initiatives attributed to its staffing or equipment at Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International Airports. Temporary airspace restrictions and Prior Permission Required protocols were in place, but no NAV CANADA-related traffic control
delays occurred during these events, with only routine arrival sequencing and a weather-related ground stop reported.
Flight Volume and Airspace Traffic Trends
Flight volumes at the four major Canadian airports remained stable with a slight 0.9% decrease during the World Cup window compared to 2025. Toronto Pearson International Airport saw a 2.0% increase in traffic. Meanwhile, Aireon data showed nearly an 11% rise in flight traffic through the Montréal flight information region in June 2026 relative to June 2025, representing one of the largest North American traffic increases that month.
NAV CANADA’s Readiness Measures
Preparation for the summer period included hiring over 600 new air traffic services professionals since 2023
and achieving a 26% net staffing growth in 2024-2025. NAV CANADA also rehired more than 50 retired controllers on contract and reintegrated qualified managers into frontline duties. Technology investments such as Arrival Manager systems were deployed at all Area Control Centres. These operational strategies supported the safe handling of increased traffic despite airspace reductions due to Transport Canada’s temporary restrictions and enhanced security operations.
Official Statements and Coordination Efforts
Marie-Pier Berman, NAV CANADA Vice President and Chief of Operations, stated, “In May, we said our team was ready. The results show they were.” She credited the air traffic controllers and support teams for managing some
of the highest traffic increases in North America safely during the World Cup. NAV CANADA maintained daily coordination with airport authorities, airlines, Transport Canada, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, and law enforcement throughout the tournament.
All summer readiness measures will remain in effect through Labour Day 2026, with plans addressing the peak demand and weather challenges historically seen in August. NAV CANADA continues to integrate newly licensed controllers graduating from record-capacity training programs to sustain operational performance.
The successful management of flight operations during the largest sporting event staged in North America led to 99.85% of scheduled flights across the
four busiest airports operating without NAV CANADA traffic management interventions during the assessed period, resulting in better on-time performance and fewer disruptions for Canadian travelers.
