(Calgary) WestJet Airlines nationwide check-in services were restored on Thursday after a temporary system outage caused flight delays and hampered travel across Canada earlier in the morning.
Posted at 11:00 a.m.
Updated at 1:44 p.m.
WestJet spokeswoman Morgan Bell said travelers are still encouraged to arrive early and check their flight status before heading to the airport. She said the airline is still experiencing some issues with its self-service bag drop at airports in Calgary, Ottawa, Saskatoon and Halifax.
System outages affected both WestJet Airlines and air traffic control agency NAV Canada on Thursday, with travelers on social media reporting long queues and confusion at airports.
NAV Canada, the not-for-profit company responsible for air traffic control in the country, said it was experiencing disruptions in western regions due to a service outage with its third-party telecommunications provider, Zayo.
NAV Canada spokesman Brian Boudreau said air traffic control has temporarily reduced the flow of departures and arrivals at some locations.
“Nav Canada is actively communicating with Zayo to ensure that every effort is made to restore service as soon as possible and to understand restoration timelines,” said Boudreau.
Thursday’s outages add to several other summer frustrations for Canadian air travellers.
Airlines and airports have struggled to cope with a massive resurgence in travel since the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, and staffing issues at carriers and federal agencies have led to flight cancellations, baggage handling delays and endless queues.