Updated as of 23DEC: In response to winter storm disruptions, Air Canada has implemented a flexible rebooking policy for flights to, from or via YVR, YYZ, YUL and YOW. Pax can make voluntary changes to their itinerary at the select airports if they have purchased an Air Canada ticket no later than 21DEC for travel between 20-28DEC 2022.
If pax are scheduled to travel during the affected period, they can retrieve their booking to change their flight up to two hours before departure, free of charge, to another date between now and 31DEC 2022, subject to availability in the cabin originally purchased. Otherwise, any fare difference will apply.
Canadian airports are in for more chaos as Environment Canada predicts rain, flash freezing, and snow for Ontario beginning on 22DEC, with "blizzard-like conditions" on 23DEC. The severe weather front is predicted keep moving into Quebec and Atlantic Canada through 24DEC. This new, serious winter weather in the East is compounding problems of flight cancellations and delays at YVR which started earlier this week due to a winter storm in Canada's West.
The one-two punch of bi-coastal winter storms means all of Canada will be confronting winter storm issues for the holiday travel season. Here's the latest on timing and advisories:
Ontario
YYZ posted an advisory on Twitter 21DEC, saying that incoming winter weather was likely to impact operations, and asking pax to check their flight status before leaving for the airport. According to the Toronto Star, Environment Canada is warning of possible "extensive power outages" and "dangerous travel conditions."
Environment Canada is warning of the winter storm with "possible flash freezing and high winds" is predicted to hit the Ottawa region late 22DEC. Even before the storm, YOW predicted 22 and 23DEC to be the airport's busiest travel days of the year with estimated 6,000 pax per day, reports the CBC.
Quebec & the Maritimes
Winter storm warnings also apply to Quebec, which is predicted to see snow starting the evening of 22DEC, reports the CBC. YQB has yet to publish any advisories.
The storm is then moving into Atlantic Canada, expected to bring heavy rain, some snow, and high winds into the region on 23 and 24DEC, reports CTV News. High wind speeds are noted to possibly cause power outages, which could affect flights. YHZ announced a weather advisory on 22DEC, saying that winter weather across Canada and the U.S. could impact flight schedules at the airport. Pax are advised to check their flight status before coming to the airport.
Meanwhile, on the West Coast...
YVR posted a new operations update late in the evening on 21DEC, saying that flights are "steadily arriving and departing" from the airport. According to YVR's ongoing updates, the airport has seen an increase in the number of departing and arriving passenger flights, but continues to warn pax to expect delays.
The updates come shortly after YVR restricted the number of incoming international flights on 21DEC for 48 hours until 23DEC, a move intended to "clear congestion" at its airfield which affects approximately 30 arriving international flights with 17 airlines, reports CTV News.
The new delays at YVR were caused by a winter storm which hit southern B.C late 20DEC, which led to a "significant" number of aircraft to remain at the airport, causing congestion at the airfield and limited the airport's ability to "facilitate arriving and departing flights." That had a rollover effect for connections and other flights across the country.
Airlines
According to CTV News on 21DEC, more than 1,000 flights have been cancelled by Air Canada and WestJet since 18DEC, when weather began impacting operations at YVR. There were 130 WestJet flights cancelled on 21DEC, which followed 240 on 20DEC, 146 on 19DEC and 104 on 18DEC for a total of 620 over four days.
Air Canada has not provided an exact number of cancelled flights, but told CTV News it has approximately 935 flights departing every day throughout its global network, and that its flight completion rate dropped by 87.25 per cent from 17-21DEC due to storms in Ontario and B.C. Based on those numbers, roughly 600 flights have been cancelled for an average of 119 per day, says CTV News.
Airline Advisories
In response to the winter storms, airlines have posted travel advisories.
WestJet
WestJet posted an operations update on 20DEC, noting that there is "very limited" reaccommodation availability due to the "high demand for travel this time of year and the significant impact across the industry."
If pax have confirmed travel between 20-26DEC and would like to proactively cancel a flight only reservation, they can do so through WestJet's Refund Form. Any guest who proactively cancels their flight will receive a full refund to original form of payment. Additionally, enhanced flexible change and cancel policies remain in place between 20DEC 2022 and 08JAN 2023, provided changes are actioned before 26DEC.
For guests with cancelled flights prior to arriving at the airport, WestJet notes that reaccommodation options are limited, where available options will be communicated through email. Reaccommodation options offered are what is available, WestJet says there are no alternative options by contacting its contact centre; contact centre wait times are extremely high. Pax are advised not go to the airport to seek reaccommodation options, as the carrier's airport teams are not able to support further.
For guests with flights cancelled while at airport, any available reaccommodation options will be communicated through email as soon as they are available. If pax are currently at the airport in YYC or YVR, dedicated lines have been set-up to assist guests in transit, the reaccommodation options will be same as those provided by email. Guests are advised to only phone the contact centre to make changes to a confirmed reservation, as if the flight has been cancelled and pax are looking for a new flight option the contact centre is not able to assist.
WestJet notes that guests with flight only group bookings or with reservations booked with a travel agent are not able to use these self-serve functions and should contact their support number directly.
For more information, visit WestJet's web site.
Air Canada
Air Canada posted an update on 20DEC regarding the winter storm in Vancouver. The carrier implemented a policy allowing pax to make voluntary changes to their itinerary if they purchased an Air Canada ticket no later than 19DEC 2022 for travel between 20-25DEC; or if their itinerary includes a flight to, from or via YVR.
If pax are scheduled to travel during the affected period, they can retrieve their booking to change their flight up to two hours before departure, free of charge, to another date between 20 and 31DEC 2022, subject to availability in the cabin originally purchased. Otherwise, any fare difference will apply.
If tickets were purchased with Aeroplan or Air Canada Vacations, Air Canada advises to contact them directly.
The airport also posted advisories for the following airports and dates, noting that forecasted weather or other conditions may cause "flight delays and possible cancellations":
|
22DEC |
23DEC |
24DEC |
|
ORD (Winter operational conditions) |
ORD (Winter operational conditions) |
YUL (Snow) |
|
DTW (Winter operational conditions) |
DTW (Winter operational conditions) |
YOW (Snow) |
|
MSP (Winter operational conditions) |
MSP (Winter operational conditions) |
YQB (Snow) |
|
YUL (Freezing rain) |
YUL (Snow) |
YTZ (Snow) |
|
YOW (Snow) |
YYZ (Snow) |
|
|
YQB (Snow) |
YVR (Snow) |
|
|
YTZ (Snow) |
||
|
YYZ (Snow) |
||
|
YVR (Snow) |
For more information, visit Air Canada's web site.
Porter Airlines
According to a statement on Twitter, complimentary flight changes to flights on 22, 23, and 24DEC for pax whose flights are affected by the weather. Pax are asked to contact Porter's Call Centre for assistance. As reported by CP24, pax will be able to move flights until 26DEC.
Also on 20DEC, Porter announced on Twitter that it is experiencing a "third-party network outage" that has impacted it service, including its web site. The carrier noted that its Call Centre agents are still available for assistance until 10:30pm ET at 1-888-619-8622. The carrier said it is working to resolve the issue, but at this time, no further updates have been provided.
For more information, visit Porter Airlines' web site.
Other airlines are also posting advisories.
As conditions change very quickly, for the very latest advisories and updates, it's recommended to go directly to an airline's web site.
