Air Canada asks pilots to avoid Kelowna, Winnipeg airports during severe air-traffic-control shortages

A shortfall of air-traffic controllers in Canada is at times forcing airport towers at Kelowna and Winnipeg airports to close when the one controller on duty goes on a break, according to a memo to Air Canada pilots seen by Reuters.

Air Canada advised its pilots to avoid the two airports in the provinces of British Columbia and Manitoba when staffing shortages are severe enough to shut their air-traffic control towers, the Oct. 14 memo said.