Over three dozen flights cancelled and nearly 300 delayed as Canada grapples with massive travel chaos, hitting multiple airlines due to bad weather
Synopsis Canada faced significant air travel disruptions due to severe weather. Numerous flights were cancelled and delayed across major airports. Toronto Pearson experienced the most delays. Air Canada was heavily impacted. Vancouver saw the highest number of cancellations. WestJet Encore faced considerable setbacks. Montreal also suffered disruptions. The adverse weather created logistical challenges for airlines and stranded many travellers. Severe weather conditions across Canada caused widespread travel chaos, impacting its busiest airports and leaving flight services in turmoil. The adverse weather conditions led to flight cancellations and delays as airlines tackled meteorological conditions that made flying unsafe or impossible.
ADVERTISEMENT As many as 38 flights were cancelled, and 298 were delayed, according to the Travel and Tour World (TTW) website. The flight disruptions turned out to be a big blow to major Canadian carriers, with Air Canada, Porter, WestJet, and several other domestic and international airlines forced to change their schedules. Bad weather conditions became even worse after intense thunderstorms, heavy rain, and low visibility created a logistical nightmare and left countless travelers stranded, TTW reported.
The weather, ranging from intense thunderstorms and low visibility in the east to turbulent systems on the Pacific coast, forced air traffic control to slow the pace of takeoffs and landings.
The flight disruptions caused by bad weather conditions were most severe at Toronto Pearson, which saw 131 delays and 9 cancellations. According to TTW, Air Canada was hit hardest, witnessing 65 delays, followed by American Airlines with a 54% delay rate, and carriers like China Eastern and Ethiopian Airlines saw 50-100% of their services delayed.As far as the West Coast is concerned, Vancouver saw the highest cancellations, with 14 flights grounded and 69 delayed. WestJet Encore was severely impacted with 7 cancellations (a 14% rate). International airlines like XiamenAir and Philippine Airlines saw a 100% delay rate. As the poor weather took its toll across Canada, Montréal Trudeau International Airport was also not spared. facing 63 delays and 8 cancellations. The impact of cancellations and delays was worst on Air Canada, which saw 21 delays; Jazz (17 delays); and Porter Airlines, which saw 7% of its flights canceled, TTW reported.
ADVERTISEMENT The chaos extended to Toronto's City Centre airport, where Porter experienced an 18% delay in its schedule. Meanwhile, Edmonton saw 17 delays and 3 cancellations across various airlines, including Jazz and WestJet Encore. Toronto Pearson International (YYZ): Ground Zero for Delays
ADVERTISEMENT Toronto Pearson, Canada's busiest airport, reported 131 flight delays and 9 cancellations.Air Canada's hub operations were badly hit, with 65 delayed flights (18% of its schedule) and 5 cancellations. WestJet also witnessed major slowdowns, with 13 flights delayed.
ADVERTISEMENT As far as regional carriers are concerned, Jazz and Air Canada Rouge contributed a combined 26 delays and 4 cancellations to the airport's tally.Vancouver International (YVR): Most cancellations across the country. Vancouver International Airport led the country with 14 total cancellations while also grappling with 69 delays. WestJet Encore was hit particularly hard, canceling 7 flights, which accounted for 14% of its daily operations at the hub.
ADVERTISEMENT Air Canada saw 5 of its flights canceled and another 26 delayed by the Pacific weather systems.International travel was also affected, with carriers like XiamenAir and Philippine Airlines seeing 100% of their scheduled flights delayed.
In Montreal, severe weather in the St. Lawrence Valley region led to 63 delays and 8 cancellations, disrupting travel throughout Eastern Canada.
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