Camera operator quietly rips Pearson Airport during press conference

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Sometimes a picture’s worth a thousand words.

The work of a camera operator during a Tuesday press conference at Pearson International Airport, however, was priceless.

Deborah Flint, the president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, which operates Pearson, spoke to reporters about the improving conditions for passengers this summer compared to last.

“This summer is, of course, very different than summer 2022 with its slingshot of growth of 180% in a very short period of time,” Flint said, according to Jane Stevenson’s report.

“On average, (91%) of passengers are clearing security checkpoint lines in 15 minutes, there are a considerable number of passengers that are clearing customs and entering the country in seven minutes.”

Flint spoke in front of the arrivals area where, above her, were the multiple screens showing flights coming into Pearson. Or at least, were supposed to be arriving at Pearson.

As Flint was in the middle of telling reporters that Pearson has “seen almost a doubling in terms of improvement on on-time performance since last year,” CTV News’ camera moved from her to the screens above, zooming in on the boards showing numerous delayed and cancelled flights.

A clip of broadcast has gone viral, with viewers on social media tittering at the incredible shot and giving props to the man behind the camera, with one person calling him “an astute professional doing what they do best,” while another suggested, “Give that man a raise.”

“He fact checked, rebutted, and won the debate: All without saying a single word. GENIUS,” one user wrote.

A second person added: “Yes… paying attention to the message vs. the reality.”

A third scoffed: “They’re so ridiculous. Holding a press conference to show off their good work but with the mediocrity of their efforts hanging over their heads.”

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Pearson tried to do damage control and blamed the delays on other airports, which are beyond their control.

But one person pointed out, “Doubling in terms of improvement is a hilarious claim, like a second derivative or something. They haven’t doubled the number that are on-time, they’ve doubled the improvement. If the improvement last year was one more on-time flight, this year there are two more on-time flights.”

Flint said during the presser that there was just one flight between July 3 and July 9 where passengers were held on the aircraft for nine minutes compared to last summer when the same week saw 34 flights with an average hold time of 10 minutes.

A poll earlier this year found that Pearson dropped to the 64th best airport among the world’s Top 100 Airports, down from its previous ranking of 43rd in 2022.