As catastrophic wildfires continue ravaging Southern California, Canadians heading to Los Angeles are being urged to stay informed about evolving flight policies and potential disruptions.
The fires, including the Palisades Fire in LA and the Eaton Fire in Altadena, have forced over 100,000 people to evacuate, claimed five lives, and destroyed nearly 2,000 structures.
Ottawa has issued a travel advisory warning of life-threatening conditions, including dense smoke, reduced visibility, road closures, and poor air quality across Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
Business Insider says strong winds from wildfires have caused significant disruptions at LAX. On Thursday, 09JAN, 134 flights were delayed, and 40 were cancelled, out of the airport's nearly 700 daily nonstop flights. A day earlier, there were 282 delays and 11 cancellations.
Disruptions were also significant at the smaller Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR). According to FlightAware, 21 flights were delayed, and four were cancelled on Thursday, while Wednesday saw 57 delays and 45 cancellations.
Pearson International (YYZ) and Porter Airlines report no disruptions for flights to LAX. Flights between Vancouver (YVR) and LAX continue to be on schedule.
LAX remains open, but the situation is fluid.
To accommodate affected travellers, major Canadian airlines have implemented flexible rebooking policies:
- WestJet: Passengers travelling to LA through 11JAN can make one free change to their itinerary. Refunds or travel credits will be issued. Any changes or cancellations must be requested at least two hours before departure, and rebooked travel must occur within 60 days of the original departure.
- Air Canada: Travellers scheduled to fly to or from LA by 11JAN can change their plans without incurring additional fees, subject to seat availability. Pax are encouraged to check their flight status online or contact the airline’s customer service.
- Flair Airlines: Pax with flights to or from Los Angeles through 12JAN can adjust their bookings with a one-time exemption on the change fee, though fare differences may apply.
Travellers are advised to call their travel advisor for updates and:
- Monitor local news for info on conditions and evacuation orders.
- Check flight statuses directly with airlines before heading to the airport.
- Follow the guidance of local emergency services.
