While skies might be friendly, passengers flying with Air Canada might not feel the same. According to aviation data firm Cirium, Air Canada clocked in as the worst performer in terms of on-time flights among large airlines in North America for 2023.
Only 63% of the carrier’s flights arrived on schedule, putting it at the bottom of the pack among the continent’s 10 biggest airlines. This dismal score is 5 percentage points lower than JetBlue and Frontier, its closest competitors in punctuality woes.
Air Canada’s tardiness translates to a staggering 140,000 delayed flights last year, the highest among all airlines listed in the report, spanning across multiple continents. For comparison, WestJet managed a 69% on-time rate, landing it at a slightly respectable seventh place in North America, while Delta Air Lines soared past everyone with a stellar 85% on-time performance.
Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau admits to the company’s shortcomings, attributing the delays to a perfect storm of factors: air traffic controller shortage, unpredictable weather, and a maxed-out network struggling to meet high demand.
So, if you’re planning to fly with Air Canada, pack some patience in your carry-on alongside your essentials. Your flight might not be taking off or landing anytime soon.
