Mississauga’s Pearson Airport is “an absolute disaster” as travelers face hours-long delays

Travelers arriving at Mississauga’s Pearson Airport tonight say long waits for disembarking, COVID screening, luggage pickup and going through customs has turned the area into a disaster zone.

All night long (August 14) social media has been lit up by passengers arriving at the airport who have complained they have been left sitting on the tarmac for hours. Others say they have been waiting for hours to pick up their luggage in the baggage area. Still, even more say long delays caused by COVID screening have made it impossible to leave Pearson.

“Pearson Airport is an absolute disaster. Been stuck on the plane for 2 hours with no end in sight… Customs line is too long to let us off the plane. Absolute joke,” wrote Ryan Sura on Twitter.

Another person with the Twitter handle “Isaac” writes: “4 hours now. Still on the plane.”

Delays come after the federal government recently reduced many of the restrictions that previously prevented…or at least discouraged…American travelers from flying into the country.

As the restrictions have been lifted, delays of all sorts have been experienced but tonight the experience has been exasperating for many.

“Worst experience @pearsonairport,” writes Kuldeep Cheema, also on Twitter. “Waiting in plane for more than hour. Nobody knows approximately how long it will be before they let us get off the plane.”

Getting off the plane has proved to be just as frustrating to many.

“Where’s my luggage? Where’s my luggage,” wrote Jonathan Sebastien on Facebook. “It’s been three hours. Where’s my luggage?”

Alvin Chan writes on Twitter: “My parent and my aunt came all the way and had to wait for more than 4 hours for their luggage and been told ‘we don’t know where yours gone’ There are more than 10 other people on the same flight don’t have theirs too”

Representatives from the airport could not be reached for comment tonight but earlier they had this to say in a released statement: “While Pearson is working closely with airlines and government agencies to find every efficiency possible, it may take longer to pass through the airport due to additional health screenings for COVID-19.”

Thanks for the flyer to remind on social distancing. Wish it would be enforced at the airport. #governmentofcanada #torontoairport #covid19 pic.twitter.com/CW0F6o5Ae2

— Martina Brankovsky (@mytorontodoors) August 9, 2021