Photo: Cindy White
File photo
A recent severe staffing shortage that caused hours of security delays at Vancouver International Airport is on Kelowna International Airport’s radar.
Passengers at YVR were left in huge queues on Sunday after several employees of the Canadian Air Transport Authority (CATSA) contracted company called in sick at the last minute. Some reports suggested it was a “soft strike” by Allied Universal workers.
This line of defense is completely unacceptable. Here’s a video I shot while walking most of it 15 minutes ago. Twitter video cuts out after 140 seconds pic.twitter.com/A5yMzedpfi
— Connor McGee (@ConnorMcGe3) August 28, 2022
The same company is also CATSA’s air security clearance provider at YLW.
“We have our concerns,” says airport director Sam Samadar. “We have contingency plans.”
“Our main goal is to make sure that the passengers and the aircraft leave on time. As long as we can pull those passengers in advance to make sure they don’t get stuck in a check-in line.”
Samadar said this is one of the methods that have been used to try to move people through the airport.
As the summer tourist season nears its end, he notes that there has been a big increase in passenger traffic this year, but that poses challenges.
“As you know, we’ve had some difficulties as an airline industry in terms of wait times and other things, in all aspects of our business. So, we’ve had a shortage of manpower building up to support us where we’re going,” Samadar said.
By the end of 2022, he expects YLW to reach about 80 to 85 percent of the passenger volume seen in 2019.
“Which is very, very positive. And we are looking for greater opportunities this fall and winter, with the introduction of more air services at our airport.”
Current situation at Kelowna airport… Haha the messages keep saying “please stay 2 meters away from other people” pic.twitter.com/RqQBL3Jugd
— Heidi Fedoruk (@cashmobstalbert) August 30, 2022
After a delay due to the pandemic, the expansion of the airport’s terminal is due to begin in 2023. This should help alleviate some of the overcrowding conditions that passengers have faced in recent months.
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