Some 85,000 travellers expected at Pearson Airport in Mississauga on Friday

Travellers catching flights out of Pearson Airport in Mississauga this Friday (March 11) can expect huge crowds, lineups and possible delays as the airport anticipates its busiest travel day in two years.

With March Break running March 14-18, many travellers will be looking to escape the cold a few days in advance. As such, tens of thousands of people will be moving through Pearson headed for sunny, warm destinations.

Some 85,000 travellers are expected to be departing from or arriving at Pearson on Friday, the majority of those anticipated to be departing passengers, Pearson officials say.

“This will mark the busiest travel day at the airport since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago,” the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which runs Pearson, said in a news release today (March 9). “Pearson wants passengers who are travelling for March Break to know what they can do to make their airport experience as smooth as possible as many may be travelling for the first time in two years or more.”

While a number of travel restrictions have been eased, existing government health measures will make for a travel experience that differs greatly from pre-pandemic times, the GTAA notes.

“For the March Break period, delays are possible and longer wait times are to be expected due to many COVID-19 health measures still in place,” the airport says. “Pearson is working closely with airlines and government agencies to find every efficiency possible, but passengers should be aware that coming out of the pandemic, all companies and government agencies operating at the airport sometimes face staffing challenges similar to those in other service sectors.”

Pearson officials ask travellers to be patient as they make their way through the airport during March Break.

Travellers taking flights out of Pearson are urged to arrive at the airport 90 minutes in advance of domestic flights and at least three hours prior to international flights.

For passengers arriving at Pearson Airport, GTAA officials have some advice as well.

“Due to government measures in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19, passengers arriving from international destinations will experience additional screening and health checks, which may result in delays,” officials say. “Passengers should be prepared for an arrivals process that may take significantly longer than it did pre-pandemic depending on their specific set of circumstances. When going through customs, passengers will be required to answer additional health questions.”

Travellers are advised to check for the latest guidelines.