The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a nationwide ground stop on November 13, 2026, due to a telecommunications failure at U.S. air traffic control centers. The FAA lifted the ground stop around 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time that day after conducting system tests and confirming safe flight operations could resume.
Despite the order lifting, significant operational disruptions continued in Canada on November 14 at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL). Flight tracking data reported by PAX News indicated 92 cancellations and 97 delays at Toronto Pearson as of 11:48 a.m. ET, with 62 cancellations involving flights
to or from the United States. Montréal-Trudeau recorded approximately 40 flight cancellations on November 14, following 61 cancellations on November 13 linked to aircraft displacement caused by the FAA ground stop.
Air Canada confirmed that the FAA ground stop ended on November 13 but warned customers that some flights could still face delays or cancellations while schedules normalized. The airline advised passengers to review travel status online and use self-service options for updates. WestJet issued a travel advisory covering affected journeys from November 13 to November 15, introducing flexible booking options that allow eligible passengers to change or cancel flights
once without fees, subject to terms. Both airlines emphasized monitoring flight information regularly before traveling to airports.
Passengers flying through Toronto Pearson and Montréal-Trudeau airports on November 14 experienced interruptions primarily on routes to and from the United States, as well as connecting destinations including the Caribbean, Mexico, South America, and Costa Rica. Travelers were urged to verify flight status online, review airline notifications, and contact their carriers for rebooking or refund options. WestJet and Air Canada encouraged avoiding unnecessary airport visits unless confirmed flight operations were assured.
The telecommunications problem that prompted the FAA’s nationwide ground stop at U.S.
air traffic control centers caused cascading effects on flights crossing U.S. airspace, impacting thousands of flights and disrupting cross-border travel. Although the FAA system was restored on November 13 evening, challenges including aircraft and crew scheduling, flight diversions, and delayed departures persisted through November 14. The knock-on operational issues continue to affect air travel into November 15 at major Canadian hubs serving U.S. routes.
