Over 8.7 million Canadian passengers faced flight disruptions this summer, AirHelp reports
26.1 million Canadian passengers travelled between June and August this year
Nationwide strike by Air Canada flight attendants led to a disruption spike of 54%
Pearson International continues to rank as the busiest airport in Canada
Canada — 17 September 2025 — AirHelp, the leading travel tech company supporting passengers with flight disruptions, today unveils the biggest disruptions that took place in Canada during the 2025 summer period.
AirHelp recorded that over 26.1 million Canadian passengers travelled between June and August, with 217,800 flights scheduled during this period. Of these passengers, 33% were disrupted (8.7 million).
The data also revealed that there was a significant spike in flight disruptions between August 16 and 19, with an average of 54% of passengers experiencing delays or cancellations. This surge was driven by a nationwide strike by Air Canada flight attendants, which began on August 16 and affected operations at major airports including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and Halifax.
The most reliable travel days during the summer period were June 2, with 22% of passengers affected by delays or cancellations, and June 7, and 10, with 24% of passengers affected. These dates stood out for their low disruption rates, offering smoother travel experiences compared to the rest of the season.
Best and worst for on-time performance
A closer look at Canadian airports highlighted that Pearson International Airport was the busiest travel hub, welcoming over 7.1 million passengers travelling between June and August this year. Vancouver International Airport and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport followed with over 4.1 million and 3.6 million travelers, respectively.
In terms of punctuality, Kamloops Airport and Fort St. John Airport led the way, with 77% of passengers departing on time, respectively. Meanwhile, Kelowna Airport and Cranbrook Airport experienced the highest disruption rates, with 41% and 40% of passengers impacted.
AirHelp’s data also uncovered the top travel destinations for Canadian passengers over the summer period. Domestic travel was among the most popular, with 26 million passengers travelling within Canada between June and August. This was closely followed by 5 million people travelling to the United States and nearly 600,000 passengers crossing the Atlantic to France.
Analyzing routes in Canada
When examining the most disrupted routes from Canadian airports, Robert L. Stanfield International Airport to Boston Logan International Airport ranked the highest with 81% of flights disrupted, impacting over 17,700 passengers between June and August. 65% of passengers were impacted on routes from Pearson International Airport to Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, closely followed by 64% of passengers on routes from Pearson International Airport to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. In fact, routes from Pearson International Airport accounted for four out of five of the most disrupted routes, underscoring the operational pressures at Canada’s busiest airport.
On the other hand, the most fortunate passengers were those who travelled from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport to Paris Orly Airport, with over 96% departing on time this summer. Routes from Vancouver International Airport to Auckland Airport and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport to Cancun International Airport also demonstrated impressive performance, with punctuality rates of 94% and 92% respectively.
About AirHelp
AirHelp is a travel tech company tackling flight disruptions. Since 2013, it has won compensation for over 3 million passengers with a flight delay or cancellation. 12 million passengers have protected their flights with AirHelp+ Protection, and countless millions more benefit from the expert information freely available on www.airhelp.com/en-ie/. AirHelp has also just released its new app, which offers real-time flight tracking, disruption alerts, and options for extra protection, download it here!
AirHelp is dedicated to investing in a greener future - it has pledged to plant 1 tree for every 100 flight disruptions and so far, it has planted 146,181 trees. As air passenger rights advocates, AirHelp cares about people, and caring about people also means caring about the planet.
#1 source for flight compensation worldwide
With innovative artificial intelligence and a dedicated team of over 400 AirHelpers, AirHelp makes it easy for any traveller in the EU, UK and beyond to receive up to €600 for flight delays and cancellations. For more information about AirHelp, visit: www.airhelp.com/en-ie/.