What is Happening in Toronto?

Toronto's buzzing with news of a major passport kiosk outage that’s wreaking havoc at Pearson International Airport and beyond. 

On September 28, 2025, a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) system crash hit automated passport checks, causing long delays, missed flights, and ripple effects on local businesses. 

Let’s dive into what’s going on, why it matters, and how it’s shaking up Toronto travel and commerce.

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Understanding the Toronto Passport Kiosk Outage

Imagine landing in Toronto, eager to breeze through customs, only to find the passport kiosks dead. That’s the deal at Pearson, Montreal’s Trudeau, and Calgary International airports. 

A CBSA spokesperson blamed an “unforeseen technical issue” during routine maintenance, kicking off in the afternoon. No hacks, just a glitch that forced travelers into manual lines, spiking wait times.

Why the Outage Hurts Travelers

These kiosks speed up passport verification and ArriveCAN declarations. When they crash, travelers face manual checks, stretching waits from minutes to hours. 

Security stays tight with full ID scans, but the backlog’s brutal. By evening, Pearson cut delays to 90 minutes from over three hours, but frustration lingers.

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Toronto’s Pearson Airport: Ground Zero for Delays

Pearson, Canada’s busiest hub, took the hardest hit. Social media exploded with shots of endless lines at Terminals 1 and 3. 

One traveler from Croatia waited hours to deplane as customs hit capacity. WestJet even paused deplaning on some flights to manage the crush.

Traveler Stories: The Human Toll

• Eric’s Nightmare: Eric Tordjman, stuck in Calgary en route to Toronto, missed two flights after his boarding pass was revoked due to the outage. He faced sleeping at the airport or paying for a hotel.

• Wider Frustration: Social media posts show travelers missing connections or dragging into Monday meetings exhausted, with Pearson’s chaos at the core.

Flight Disruptions Beyond Toronto

The outage didn’t stop at customs. Airlines checking Canada-bound passengers, even from places like New York’s LaGuardia, had to call CBSA for every passport. 

ArriveCAN went offline, halting digital entries. Flights nationwide faced delays or groundings.

No Electricity Issues, Just Tech Woes

No power outages here, it’s all about the system crash. Manual checks strained airport ops, from check-ins to baggage handling. CBSA’s working with airport teams to speed things up while keeping security solid.

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Toronto Businesses Feel the Pinch

The outage’s ripple effects hit Toronto’s economy hard. Fewer travelers mean less business for hotels, cabs, and restaurants near Pearson. Downtown spots see quieter nights, and missed business trips could stall deals.

Economic Impacts in Numbers

• Travel Industry Hit: Hotels near Pearson report up to 20% fewer bookings on outage days, per local tourism boards. Rideshares and eateries also see dips.

• Supply Chain Woes: Past CBSA outages delayed cargo processing by over an hour, hinting at potential import snags for Toronto businesses.

Not the First Time

This isn’t new, similar outages in April and June 2025 caused delays at major airports. Each glitch chips away at Toronto’s rep as a smooth travel hub, pushing businesses to brace for more.

Bright Spots in the Chaos

Amid the mess, kindness shone through. Passengers shared tips in lines, and airline staff handed out free snacks and drinks. WestJet and others kept updates flowing, turning frustration into teamwork until everyone cleared customs.

Community Spirit Saves the Day

Airports became mini-communities as travelers and staff leaned on each other. From sharing water to swapping delay hacks, these acts kept spirits up. It’s a reminder that Toronto’s got heart, even in a crisis.

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Conclusion

Toronto’s passport kiosk outage on September 28, 2025, turned Pearson into a bottleneck, with delays hitting travelers and businesses alike. 

It’s a wake-up call for better tech backups, as past outages show this isn’t a one-off. Stay prepared, Toronto travelers! 

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FAQ

What caused the Toronto passport kiosk outage?

A CBSA system crash during routine maintenance, not a hack, knocked kiosks offline at major airports.

How long were the delays at Pearson Airport?

Wait times spiked over three hours before easing to around 90 minutes by evening.

Did the outage affect only Toronto?

No, Montreal’s Trudeau, Calgary International, and even U.S. airports checking Canada-bound passengers were hit.

Was security compromised during the outage?

No, manual ID scans kept full security checks in place, just much slower.

How did the outage impact Toronto’s economy?

Hotels near Pearson saw up to 20% booking drops, rideshares lost fares, and businesses risked delayed deals.

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