In the immediate aftermath of the failed terrorist bombing of Flight 253 in the United States, heavy security has plagued air travel wait times all over the world. And according to the Globe and Mail, Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International is among the absolute worst in the world, say many airline industry analysts.
Of course one needs to take into account several factors here. Toronto is a major international hub for travel, particularly as stopovers en route to the United States. Canada also has the most scheduled flights to the U.S. than any other country in the world, unsurprisingly, but it’s still caused enough chaos that police forces have had to be called in to deal with the volume.
But while some other Canadian airports have managed to deal with the problems, Toronto is struggling.
“There are some Canadian airports operating very well. Vancouver is doing well. Calgary seems to have turned around … most of the pressure right now is definitely focused on Toronto,” said Ken Dunlap, director of security in North America for the IATA. “We’re satisfied that every stone has been turned over to remedy the situation at Canadian airports.”
Although it isn’t mentioned in any articles that I can think of, do you think that this little get-together might have anything at all to do with the extra delays?
Close to 17,000 Muslims came to Metro Toronto’s Convention Centre on Friday – Christmas Day – to learn about their religion and being a Muslim in a modern world.
They heard from Islamic scholars, prayed, visited with family and friends and shopped in a bazaar that offered up a variety of wares, including hand-embroidered shawls, books, T-shirts, hijabs for both women and children, jewellery and hijab pins.
It was all part of a three-day convention “Reviving the Islamic Spirit,” an annual conference with its roots in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attack. It is designed, organizers say, as a way to help young Muslims understand their faith in a North American context.
A three-day convention, which means that if you do the math, most would be trying to leave Toronto yesterday and today. Or is that merely an inconvenient coincidence?
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