Flights from Vancouver, Canada, are disrupted due to severe weather

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Passengers planning to fly from Vancouver across Canada or to destinations south of the border are currently facing potential delays or cancellations, attributed to severe weather conditions affecting various parts of the continent. Airlines in Canada have issued winter weather advisories, particularly for Atlantic Canada, where a winter storm is delivering heavy snowfall and extreme cold.

The Eskasoni First Nation in Cape Breton proclaimed a local state of emergency on February 5, contending with unprecedented snowfall levels. Concurrently, Nova Scotia has sought assistance from other provinces in response to the harsh weather conditions.

Similarly, the State of California has announced a state of emergency following an atmospheric river event that led to record rainfall over Los Angeles, resulting in approximately 830,000 residents facing power outages.

Ryan Voutilainen, a local weather enthusiast, recounted his attempts to return to Vancouver from San Francisco amid the storm, highlighting the widespread delays through a post on X, previously known as Twitter.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has acknowledged the heavy rainfall in Southern California but has indicated that these conditions have not significantly impacted its flight operations. Nonetheless, the airport is keeping a close watch on the severe snowfall in the Atlantic provinces, noting that while direct flights to Nova Scotia are not available, passengers with connecting flights to Halifax may experience disruptions.

YVR has advised passengers to stay updated on their flight status by checking with their respective airlines.

Air Canada has responded to the situation by revising its ticketing policies, allowing customers affected by the winter storms to alter their bookings without incurring penalties, provided there is availability. This policy adjustment applies to flights destined for several airports, including Sydney, St. John’s, Saint John, Halifax, Fredericton, Deer Lake, and Charlottetown. Passengers affected by these changes are encouraged to manage their bookings online or contact Air Canada Vacations directly for assistance.

Despite inquiries, Air Canada had not provided a response regarding the impact on local travellers heading to California by the time of V.I.A.’s report.

WestJet has also updated its ticketing policy, specifically aiding customers travelling to St. John’s, Newfoundland, by allowing them to modify their bookings without penalty, subject to seat availability.

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