Calgary’s airport had less anxiety Thursday afternoon, though hundreds of travelers were still in line for flight assistance.
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This week’s extreme weather in Canada couldn’t have come at a worse time for travelers at Calgary International Airport.
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Calgary-based WestJet canceled nearly 160 flights between Thursday and Friday, a number that is expected to rise. Those two days, along with January 5 and 6, are expected to be two of the four busiest days of the year, according to the Calgary Airport Authority.
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Extreme cold in Alberta since Monday has hampered some flights, as have days of heavy snowfall in Vancouver that halted all international arrivals at that city’s airport until Friday morning. A major winter storm in southern Ontario starting Thursday and worsening Friday is expected to wreak further havoc on the country’s already struggling airport network.
The Calgary Airport Authority expects around 1.3 million passengers to pass through YYC in December, with up to 50,000 travelers daily between December 16 and January 3.
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The scene at Calgary International Airport was less chaotic Thursday afternoon than it had been earlier in the week, with only a handful of domestic flight cancellations on the board. It remained busy, however, as hundreds of travelers lined up for flight assistance from the airline, though those who spoke to Postmedia at the airport said the disruption to their journey had been minimal.
Flight cancellations caused a major Christmas headache for Heather, who requested that her last name not be used. She said her partner flew from Calgary to Winnipeg Wednesday night to take her 5-year-old son to Calgary for the holidays, but she canceled her return trip to Calgary Thursday morning.
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Air travelers scrambling for flights on YYC amid weather cancellations
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He decided to rent a car and was driving across the prairies to return home to his son for Christmas.
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“I will be driving from Calgary to Regina to meet halfway and help with the trip back to Calgary,” Heather said.
As of Thursday morning, WestJet had 76 cancellations of 597 scheduled flights and 83 cancellations for Friday, though it expected that number to rise.
He said extreme cold in Alberta continued to pose challenges, as did severe weather in the Vancouver area, where another winter storm system was forecast for Thursday night. A massive storm expected in southern Ontario on Friday could also bring flash frosts and blizzard-like conditions, forcing local cancellations that could have a cascading effect across the country.
WestJet said that passengers traveling through December 26 who wish to cancel their flight due to uncertainty and receive a full refund can do so through an online refund form at westjet.com/refundrequest.
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The Calgary-based airline added that it was adequately staffed for the holiday season, but the weather affected not only the ability to operate flights, but also the ability of staff to get to work.
An air passenger rights advocate said Thursday that travelers should know they have the right to rebook within 48 hours if cancellations are beyond the airline’s control and receive a refund after that period. Gábor Lukács advised flyers to lobby airlines for compensation and keep documentation of their interactions.
“Obviously, we understand that the weather is out of the control of the airlines, but how those situations are being handled, that is something that is governed by the legislation,” Lukács said.
“If we don’t fight back very firmly, I’m afraid what we’re seeing now could become the new norm.”
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In a statement, the Calgary Airport Authority said it expects further weather effects on travel at YYC in the coming days.
He recommended that passengers check with airlines before arriving at the airport to stay up to date on delays and cancellations.
“We know these have been difficult days of travel delays for many and we thank you for your patience,” the airport authority said.
Alberta’s extreme cold snap is expected to end before the weekend, with one more day of temperatures in the -20s before a forecast high of -4C on Saturday.
However, forecasters warn that warmer days could also bring freezing rain and strong winds to southern Alberta.
—With archives from The Canadian Press
Twitter: @jasonfherring