Massive security delays at Canada's busiest airport appear to have eased in time for Thanksgiving weekend.
Officials at Toronto's Pearson International Airport said Saturday they haven't witnessed any disruptions caused by an ongoing labour dispute at the travel hub.
Scott Armstrong of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority called the operations "pretty typical" for a holiday weekend but warned there could be more congestion later in the day.
Earlier in the week, travellers were confronted with winding lineups and colossal delays after the airport's security personnel launched a work-to-rule campaign.
Passengers moving through Terminal 1 reported waiting in lines for up to five hours.
Security services provider Garda, contracted by the Canadian Airport Transit Security Authority (CATSA), had confirmed that its workers were intentionally slowing down the traveller screening process in protest against work schedules changes.
While airport operations appeared to be running more smoothly on Saturday, CATSA said it'll continue to monitor the situation.
"I think it's safe to say that the situation has improved from yesterday," Mathieu Larocque, a spokesman for the agency, told the Canadian Press.
"However, we're still seeing some congestion at some checkpoints," and it could get worse as the volume of travellers increases, he said.
Transport Minister Steven Fletcher and Labour Minister Lisa Raitt delivered a stern message to the workers on Friday, demanding that the security personnel cease "unlawful strike activities."
In a statement issued shortly after 3 p.m. Friday, Garda said they "expect the screening process to return to normal within the next hours and will continue to take the necessary steps to efficiently perform the screening process without compromising the security of the travelling public."
Raitt has appointed a federal mediator to assist in resolving the dispute.
As of Saturday morning, a banner on CATSA's website reported there were "longer than normal" wait times at security checkpoints at Pearson Airport.
But spokespeople for Pearson Airport stated there were "no signs of screening labour disruptions" in a message posted to Twitter Saturday morning.
Officials at Pearson are recommending that travellers double-check their flight departure times online before arriving at the airport.
Representatives from CATSA were not immediately available for comment.
With files from The Canadian Press
