The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enforced a nationwide ground stop on November 13, 2026, due to a telecommunications failure affecting multiple US regional air traffic control centres. This halt halted flights across the US and disrupted Canada–US cross-border air travel. Although the FAA lifted the restriction around 8:30 p.m. ET that day after verifying system functionality, extensive cancellations and delays persisted into the following two days.
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) reported 92 flight cancellations and 97 delays by 11:48 a.m. ET on November 14, 2026. Out of these cancellations, 62 involved flights to or from the United States,
reflecting significant disruption to the airport’s US-bound operations. Toronto Pearson confirmed that flights resumed after the ground stop but warned of continued operational instability.
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) experienced 61 cancellations on November 13 and approximately 40 on November 14, largely caused by aircraft that failed to arrive as scheduled the prior day. These cancellations primarily affected flights bound for US destinations and other international routes involving US airspace.
Air Canada and WestJet issued travel advisories urging passengers to monitor their flight status closely. Air Canada confirmed the FAA ground stop ended on November 13 but indicated that delays and
cancellations could continue as airline schedules stabilized. WestJet introduced flexible booking policies valid for flights between November 13 and November 15, allowing eligible customers a one-time fee-free change or cancellation on routes including the US, Caribbean, Mexico, and Costa Rica.
Passengers affected by cancellations were advised to use airline websites and mobile applications for real-time status updates and to manage bookings through self-service tools. Airlines recommended that passengers avoid unnecessary airport visits unless flight status was confirmed to prevent further congestion and frustration.
Operational disturbances resulting from the FAA ground stop, crew rescheduling, and delayed aircraft repositioning remained ongoing as
of November 15, 2026. Canadian airports and airlines continued efforts to normalize flight operations for US-bound and international services crossing US airspace.
