NAV CANADA reported an 85% reduction in flight delays attributed to its staffing and equipment issues at Toronto Pearson, Montréal-Trudeau, Calgary, and Vancouver International Airports from May 1 through August 31, 2026, compared with the same period in 2025.
Flight Delay Statistics at Major Canadian Airports
The share of scheduled flights affected by NAV CANADA-related traffic management initiatives across these four airports dropped from 1.54% in 2025 to 0.24% in 2026. Vancouver International Airport recorded the largest absolute decrease, with delays falling from 4.42% in 2025 to 0.64% in 2026. Calgary International Airport achieved the greatest proportional improvement, reducing delays from 1.16% to 0.05%. Traffic management initiatives
linked to NAV CANADA staffing decreased by 65% year-over-year across these airports. Flight volumes slightly increased by 0.9%, from 391,245 in 2025 to 394,919 in 2026, ruling out reduced air traffic as a cause for improved performance.
Operational Factors Behind Delay Reductions
NAV CANADA attributed these improvements to its summer 2026 operational readiness plan, which included increasing air traffic services professionals, offering targeted scheduling and incentives, rehiring over 50 retired controllers, and temporarily returning non-operational staff to frontline roles. Since 2023, over 600 air traffic services professionals have qualified, supported by training schools operating at record capacity. Technological investments like Arrival Manager systems were deployed
at all Area Control Centres. Despite peak demand and convective weather in August—the year’s busiest month—performance gains persisted, and controller staffing shortfalls narrowed to approximately 170 below target by August 31, down from about 200 in spring 2026.
NAV CANADA Leadership Comments
Marie-Pier Berman, Vice President and Chief of Operations at NAV CANADA, said, “Our teams at Canada’s major airports delivered approximately 85 per cent fewer NAV CANADA-attributable delays compared to the same period last year. NAV CANADA’s air traffic controllers, flight service specialists and support teams across the country stepped up, shift after shift, and the credit is theirs.” She added, “In May,
we said our team was ready. In July, the results showed they were. Today we can say they upheld that standard through the most demanding stretch of the year.” Berman also noted the ongoing staffing rebuild and that while disruptions might occur, they can be managed safely and transparently: “A season like this one is not a finish line. The staffing rebuild continues, the fall and winter bring their own demands, and readiness has never meant promising that no disruption will ever occur. It means having the people, processes and technology to manage whatever comes, safely and transparently. This summer,
our people showed what that looks like.”
NAV CANADA’s Role and Operational Scope
NAV CANADA manages air traffic control, airport advisory services, weather briefing, and aeronautical information across over 18 million square kilometres of Canadian domestic and international airspace. Established in 1996 as a private, not-for-profit company, it is internationally recognized for its safety record and technology innovation. The improvement in summer 2026 operational performance marks a significant development following pandemic-related disruptions and reflects NAV CANADA’s sustained efforts in staffing and technology enhancements.
