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Expert: Airport delays

Published: 16 June 2022

While the air transport industry welcomed news that millions of unvaccinated Canadians will soon be allowed to fly, experts and unions said a new influx of travellers could worsen the ongoing delays at airports across the country. The government announced that starting June 20 proof of vaccination will not be required to board a train or a plane in Canada. As of May 22, just over 18 per cent of Canadians — almost seven million people — did not have at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Toronto Star)

Here is an expert from McGill University that can provide comment on this issue:

John Gradek, Faculty Lecturer, School of Continuing Studies

While most Canadians are celebrating the end of vaccination mandates for domestic travel, there remain significant barriers associated with international travel that should be top of mind this summer travel season. Air travellers can continue to expect airfares creeping up and travel disruptions at major Canadian hub airports as passenger volumes increase. Welcome to summer 2022 travel!”

John Gradek is a Faculty Lecturer in the School of Continuing Studies, where he coordinates the Supply Chain and Operations Management and Integrated Aviation Management programs. He has held senior roles at Air Canada in operations, marketing and planning and has worked in the development and the delivery of commercial airline management programs for the International Aviation Management Training Institute. He is currently an adjudicator with the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada.

john.gradek [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)

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