The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop on November 13, 2026, after a telecommunications failure affected regional air traffic control centers, temporarily halting flights across the United States. The FAA lifted this ground stop around 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time the same day after testing its communication systems and confirming that flight operations could safely resume.
Despite the FAA lifting restrictions Friday evening, flight cancellations and delays persisted on November 14 at major Canadian airports serving U.S. routes. Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) recorded 92 cancellations and 97 delays by 11:48 a.m. Eastern Time. Among the cancellations
at Pearson, 62 involved flights either originating from or destined for the United States. Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) reported roughly 40 flight cancellations on November 14 following 61 cancellations the previous day. The ongoing disruptions at both airports were attributed to the fallout from the U.S. air traffic control telecommunications problem and the subsequent FAA ground stop.
Airlines operating at these airports faced operational challenges beyond the FAA-imposed halt. Scheduling issues related to crew availability and aircraft positioning led to continued flight delays and cancellations through November 14. Air Canada and WestJet issued advisories urging travelers to verify flight status
prior to arriving at airports. WestJet implemented flexible booking policies covering travel between November 13 and 15, allowing passengers affected by cancellations or delays to rebook or cancel flights without additional fees under specified conditions. Air Canada also encouraged customers to use online tools for rebooking and refunds.
Passengers impacted by these disruptions experienced uncertainty and longer wait times at Canadian airports. Some travelers, including those at Calgary International Airport (YYC), reported being stranded overnight and bearing accommodation expenses. Naji Zuain, a passenger affected by cancellations at Calgary, commented, “It’s kind of unfair for them to have to cover each
and every passengers’ expenses due to something that was no fault of their own.” Both airlines advised passengers to monitor their booking notifications and to avoid unnecessary trips to the airport unless their flight status was confirmed.
Official Responses and Recovery Efforts
Toronto Pearson Airport confirmed that U.S.-bound flights resumed following the lifting of the FAA ground stop but cautioned that delays and cancellations might continue as airlines recover schedules. Air Canada acknowledged the end of the FAA ground stop on November 13 but highlighted ongoing disruptions as operations normalize, especially on flights passing through U.S. airspace, including some services to the Caribbean and South
America. WestJet’s travel advisory covering November 13 to 15 underscored the impact on flights to the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, and Costa Rica, emphasizing flexible passenger options.
The FAA stated that the nationwide ground stop was lifted after confirming the restoration of communication systems at regional control centers. However, residual operational disruptions stemming from the sudden suspension persisted across cross-border travel routes, particularly affecting Canadian airports handling significant U.S.-bound traffic.
