Toronto Pearson International Airport is implementing comprehensive measures to provide passengers with a seamless, predictable, and enjoyable travel experience during the summer rush.
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) President and CEO, Deborah Flint, has announced several process improvements and practices with partners to deliver a more customer-centric and reliable experience than the challenging summer of 2022.
Per the news release, Toronto Pearson has fast-tracked its modernization plans in response to last year’s chaotic travel season following the easing of pandemic restrictions. They have invested in innovative technologies, increased staffing, and introduced new processes to enhance efficiency, cleanliness, and create a positive passenger experience.
Toronto Pearson’s new approaches aim to smooth the travel experience for summer 2023 through the following measures:
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Parnerneship: The innovations and processes that will help smooth the travel experience at Pearson Airport include self-service infrastructure, contactless check-in and boarding processes, and a new partnership with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to deploy biometric e-gates that expedite customs clearance for travellers.
Baggage Handling with AI and Real-time Analysis: To improve baggage handling, the airport has upgraded its baggage system to feature AI that anticipates overloading and detects potential breakdowns before they occur. The airport is also capturing real-time data and pushing accountability with airlines and their ground handlers on proper training and staffing availability to reduce baggage recirculation, maintain baggage system capacity, prevent bag jams, and reduce related delays at check-in and departure.
Better Staffing: Toronto Pearson is also bolstering staffing in critical areas such as bussing, baggage handling, and terminal operations. The airport has installed new sensors and pulled screening data to post wait times for all agency checkpoints in the terminal and on its website.
Airline planning: It is also proactively managing the volume of flights coming into Toronto Pearson with partners on an hourly basis to ensure that the airport ecosystem is capable of receiving and processing these incoming passengers in a timely and efficient way.
Greater Toronto Airports Authority says these enhancements have already yielded tangible results, significantly improving the passenger experience through faster check-in and boarding processes, reduced wait times, and smoother baggage handling.