The Scale: Canada’s Second Largest Human Logistics Operation
When it comes to managing complex travel logistics for large-scale sporting events, ATPI Sports Travel knows how to deliver. For the 2025 Canada Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, ATPI was tasked with orchestrating a movement on a scale rivaled in Canada only by military deployments:
5,500 athletes, coaches, team managers, and officials
19 sports over two weeks of competition
300,000 lbs of baggage and sports equipment
11,000 seats booked on 83 commercial and chartered flights
15 airports across Canada feeding into one destination
All of this at the peak of “Turnaround Day”, the Games’ most intense travel day, when week-one athletes depart and week-two athletes arrive.
The Challenge: Two Force Majeures at Once
Despite 18 months of meticulous planning, ATPI was tested by not one but two force majeures while onsite delivering participant travel for the Games.
Forest Fires: On August 11, a wildfire erupted less than 20 km from St. John’s, forcing evacuations and threatening to cancel the second week of competition altogether. Within a 12-hour window, contingency plans were drafted to fly week-one participants home without bringing week-two athletes in. Fortunately, shifting winds and firefighting efforts averted disaster.
Airline Strike: On August 13, Canada’s national carrier announced a strike, jeopardizing 1,200 booked seats, primarily for Team Québec, Team Ontario, and Major Technical Officials.
“Everything was planned down to the last detail,” recalls Shelley Fleming, Senior Project Manager at ATPI Sports Travel. “And then suddenly, we were faced with two simultaneous crises, one natural, one industrial. Each on its own could have brought the Games to a halt. Together, they tested every ounce of our resilience.”
The Solution: Rapid Response and Relentless Coordination
Over the course of 72 frenetic hours, ATPI’s experts worked around the clock to:
Secure two additional charter flights to replace lost Air Canada inventory
Rebook and reroute athletes, coaches, and officials across a patchwork of commercial and charter services
Coordinate oversized equipment and baggage logistics, ensuring 7,500+ items made the journey intact
Manage real-time communication between national sport organizations, Canada Games organizers, and airlines
“The speed at which our team came together to support the challenges presented was incredible,” says Fleming. “Our mission was simple, get every participant to where they needed to be, on time and stress-free. We didn’t stop until that was achieved.”
The Outcome: A Flawless Turnaround Day
Despite fire threats, a national airline strike, and cascading operational hiccups, including delayed luggage, check-in counter system crashes and baggage belt malfunction ATPI delivered a flawless turnaround day.
Zero athletes or officials missed competition
6,000+ passengers transitioned smoothly between weeks
Every seat, bag, and team movement was accounted for
As Jayne MacDonald of Diving Canada put it:
“You all pulled off a miracle that I wasn’t sure was possible. You all deserve a huge pat on the back. Thanks so much.”
Crisis handled: Airline strike + wildfire within the same week
Response time: 72 hours to secure alternative arrangements for 1,200 passengers
Result: Zero missed events, zero stranded athletes
ATPI Sports Travel: Where Precision Meets Performance
“Our job goes far beyond booking flights,” concludes Fleming. “It’s about anticipating challenges, quickly solving problems, and ensuring every athlete and official can focus on performance, not logistics. That’s what ATPI Sports Travel does best.”
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