Massive Travel Disruptions at Toronto Pearson & Montréal-Trudeau with 388 Delays and 31 Cancellations as Hundreds of Passengers Stranded and Impacted, with Air Canada, Porter Airlines, and More

Published on December 8, 2025

Canada’s major air hubs — Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) — have descended into chaos with massive flight delays and cancellations that left hundreds of travellers stranded. The disruptions have shattered travel plans, ignited furious passengers, and exposed cracks in Canada’s air‑transport system just as travel demand surges.

At Toronto Pearson, a staggering 291 flights were delayed and 26 cancelled across major airlines. Montréal‑Trudeau fared little better: 97 flights delayed and 5 cancelled — numbers that reflect mounting pressure on airports already nearing capacity for post-pandemic travel.

Heavy delays at Pearson: Airlines struggle amid surging traffic

The trouble at Toronto’s main gateway stems from a perfect storm of rising flight volumes and operational strain. Recent official data show passenger volumes at Pearson rose to 46.8 million in 2024, a 4.4 per cent increase over 2023.

These rising numbers helped trigger the current chaos. At least five airlines saw major disruptions. The worst‑hit included national carriers like Jazz Air (operating under the ACA brand) and Porter Airlines, along with long‑haul operators such as Air Canada and Envoy Air.

Stranded passengers described chaotic scenes — endless waiting, confusion over flight statuses, and clogged terminals. Social‑media updates from the airport urged travellers to stay home if their flight was impacted.

Transport authorities say this is part of a broader pattern. According to Transport Canada (TC), flight delays remain elevated: about 33.4 per cent of all flights were delayed in 2023, compared with 24.7 per cent in 2019.

Montréal‑Trudeau: systemic strain and echoing disruptions

Not to be spared, Montréal‑Trudeau also suffered major setbacks. The official daily tally: 97 delays, 5 cancellations.

The ground swell of passenger demand at Canada’s top four airports — including Pearson and Montréal‑Trudeau — rose sharply in 2024. But infrastructure and resources haven’t caught up, heightening risks of disruption.

Passengers at YUL reported scheduling confusion, delayed check‑ins, and uncertainty about gate assignments — a problem that escalates quickly in crowded terminals during high‑traffic days.

One passenger told a news outlet: “It’s like the entire system just collapsed. We waited hours with no updates.”

Why this chaos? The results of recovery run wild

The current turmoil reflects deeper structural stress in Canada’s aviation network. A sharp rebound in travel demand — domestic, transborder, international — is colliding with limited capacity.

• According to TC, in mid‑2024, 98.8 per cent of departing passengers at the top eight Canadian airports cleared security in under 15 minutes.
• Yet flight departures on‑time remain elusive: the share of flights leaving within one hour of scheduled time has dipped to levels well below pre‑pandemic standards.

There is also a rise in consumer discontent. The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) reports an increase in air‑travel complaints per 100 flights, especially for certain carriers — a sign that passengers’ patience is fraying.

Absent improvements in resources, staffing, and infrastructure, the delays and cancellations could become the new normal — at risk of devolving into full‑blown travel chaos for Canada.

Passengers left in the lurch as airlines scramble

At Pearson, travellers faced chaotic baggage claim areas and missed connections. Some incoming flights were diverted. Others were delayed indefinitely, with no clear timeline for boarding.

At Montréal‑Trudeau, travellers described long queues, frustrated families, and confusion over rebookings. Some even abandoned their travel plans altogether.

Several airlines are directing affected passengers to their websites for re‑booking and compensation options. For example, Air Canada offers guidance on its flight‑disruption portal.

What the data says — and what it means for you

The volume surge — nearly 156.7 million passengers enplaned/deplaned in 2024 at Canadian airports — pushes the system toward its limit.

What it means for travellers: delays and cancellations are now realistic odds, not rare surprises. Flight‑aware tools and airline portals are proving indispensable.

Flights, frustration, and fallout — What’s being done

Airport authorities urge travellers to check flight status repeatedly, and to build buffer time into their schedules before heading to the airport. Social‑media advisories from Toronto Pearson emphasise “leave plenty of time.”

Meanwhile, there’s growing pressure on airlines and regulatory bodies to boost staffing, improve scheduling, and expand infrastructure — especially at top gateways.

Policy‑wise, the CTA’s growing complaints chart could nudge regulators toward stricter standards for on‑time performance and passenger compensation.

For travellers, the bottom line: expect uncertainty. Delivery of old‑school reliability — where flights leave and arrive as scheduled — may take longer than hoped.

Travelers remain resilient amid turbulence

For many passengers, days meant for joy, business or reunions turned into hours of waiting, stress and uncertainty. But amid the chaos, a resilient spirit persists. Families adapt, airlines scramble, airport staff hustle — all trying to bring order to the disorder.

If you are flying through Toronto or Montréal soon, treat this as a wake‑up call: check your flight status constantly, prepare for delays or cancellations, and keep calm. The skies may be turbulent — but travellers endure, fight through and eventually reach their destinations.