Record demand, a staffing gap, and an uncompromising commitment to safe air travel
When air traffic controllers are understaffed, fatigued, or overwhelmed by volume, the consequences extend well beyond flight delays. It is that reality, as much as operational efficiency, that has driven NAV CANADA's preparations for the 2026 summer travel season.
Marie-Pierre Berman, vice president and chief of operations at NAV CANADA, addressed the issue directly at a media briefing today. Her message: safety is the floor, not a variable.
"What I can tell you is that safety will never be compromised," said Berman. "We have the people, the technology and the processes in place to manage disruptions when they occur and to communicate transparently when they do."
Staffing gap, and the guardrails around it
NAV CANADA acknowledges it is operating approximately 200 air traffic controllers below target levels. The gap is spread nationally and is closing: since 2023, more than 600 professionals have received licences or certifications (including over 300 controllers), and staffing growth exceeded attrition by 26 per cent last year. More than 500 students are currently in training.
But Berman was clear that the organization will not allow volume to exceed what controllers can safely handle. "We never would want an air traffic controller or flight service specialist to be in a position where the volume is higher than the capacity of what they are able to handle," she said. "In the event the volume is too high, then we put in what we call traffic management initiatives to lower that volume and maintain safety at all times."
Fatigue is managed through a formal program built into scheduling architecture, with eight rules governing work hours, consecutive shifts, breaks, and overnight operations. Berman says these rules are non-negotiable regardless of demand.
What NAV CANADA has put in place for summer
To cover peak periods, NAV CANADA has launched a multi-million dollar Critical Staffing Incentive Plan with the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association (CATCA), rehired more than 50 retired controllers on contract, and temporarily returned qualified managers to frontline duties. Time-off-in-lieu is blacked out during the most critical windows.
On the technology side, Arrival Manager systems are now operational at all Area Control Centres, optimizing sequencing and reducing controller workload. A $40-million-plus simulation modernization program launches this year to accelerate training throughput.
"These plans are not on paper," Berman said. "These are tools already in the hands of our controllers or well underway."
Vancouver and runway safety
Vancouver International Airport was singled out as the facility requiring the most sustained attention. NAV CANADA has launched a new training program there, introduced a purpose-built tower simulator, and begun piloting international controller recruitment at four sites: Vancouver, Kelowna Tower, Winnipeg Tower, and Toronto City Centre Tower.
On runway safety incidents, Berman noted that the majority flagged by the Transportation Safety Board are not attributable to NAV CANADA, often involving newer pilots or flight school activity. Runway Safety Action Teams work with airports and other stakeholders to identify problem intersections and put corrective processes in place.
"No responsible organization can guarantee that there will be zero disruptions over the course of a summer," Berman said. "But safety will never be compromised."
