Air Canada's Airport Systems Back Online

Image: PHOTO: Air Canada Airbus A321. (photo courtesy of Air Canada)
Image: PHOTO: Air Canada Airbus A321. (photo courtesy of Air Canada)
Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 4:39 PM ET, Mon March 12, 2018

Air Canada has confirmed that airport systems, check-in and customer call centers are back online following a nationwide outage Monday.

The outage led to unusually long queues at airports in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, among other places. According to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com, Air Canada was experiencing nearly 170 total flight delays as of Monday afternoon.

Some travelers took to social media to complain of crowded lines and long waits while others praised airline employees for how they handled the disruption.

Air Canada said the temporary interruption affected customer contact centers and AirCanada.com. The carrier apologized for the inconvenience and resolved the issue in a couple of hours.

IT system outages are not uncommon in the airline industry, with British Airways and Southwest Airlines suffering crippling disruptions of late.

Earlier this month, Air Canada announced that it would double the frequency of its flights from Western Canada to Hawaii while flights from Western Canada to Honolulu, Maui, Kona and other popular destinations will feature Air Canada's new 737 MAX aircraft.

The carrier launched seasonal direct service between Phoenix and Montreal last month.


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Related Videos

Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Upcoming Webinar
New Orleans: Timeless Traditions & Nonstop CultureThursday, August 13, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Learn about New Orleans from the New Orleans experts. During the presentation, you'll hear about...
Upcoming Webinar
Every Island Tells a Story: Part 2 – Selling the Caribbean Through Immersive ExperiencesWednesday, August 19, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Continue the journey in the second installment of our Every Island Tells a Story webinar series. This...
Upcoming Webinar
The Art of Destination Recommendation: Alternative Destination Strategies for Travel AdvisorsTuesday, August 18, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
What if your next best sale is a destination your client hasn’t considered—and you’ve never visited?...
Upcoming Webinar
New Orleans: Timeless Traditions & Nonstop CultureThursday, August 13, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Learn about New Orleans from the New Orleans experts. During the presentation, you'll hear about...
Upcoming Webinar
Every Island Tells a Story: Part 2 – Selling the Caribbean Through Immersive ExperiencesWednesday, August 19, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Continue the journey in the second installment of our Every Island Tells a Story webinar series. This...
Upcoming Webinar
The Art of Destination Recommendation: Alternative Destination Strategies for Travel AdvisorsTuesday, August 18, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
What if your next best sale is a destination your client hasn’t considered—and you’ve never visited?...