WestJet flights impacted by extreme weather across western Canada

Over the past three days, snow in B.C. and extreme cold in Alberta have caused delays and cancellations for WestJet flights.

In an update Wednesday afternoon, WestJet says it has cancelled 130 flights, more than 20 per cent of the 563 originally scheduled flights.

The Calgary-based airline adds nine flights for Thursday have already been cut and cancellations are expected to increase.

WestJet said there were 210 cancellations on Tuesday, 146 cancellations on Monday, and 104 cancellations on Sunday.

WestJet is continuing to monitor the weather, anticipating “further weather impacts in the coming days.”

“We understand the importance of holiday travel and the frustration and disappointment this has caused. Our teams are working to re-accommodate guests as quickly as possible, where possible,” said Morgan Bell, a spokesperson for WestJet, in a statement.

“There is very limited re-accommodation availability due to the high demand for travel this time of year and the significant impact across the industry.”

For those travelling between Wednesday and Dec. 26, people can proactively cancel a flight-only reservation through WestJet’s refund form, which will be a “full refund to original form of payment.”

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Enhanced flexible change and cancel policies remain in place until Jan. 8, 2023, unless changes are made before Dec. 26.

WestJet says staffing is not an issue, explaining it is “staffed appropriately for holiday travel, along with the airport.

“The ongoing extreme cold weather warnings affecting Alberta and prolonged forecasted snow and weather events for regions across B.C. inclusive of, Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan are having a severe impact not only on our operations but our staff and service partners who are battling frigid temperatures and extreme weather,” Bell said.

“In Vancouver [Tuesday] and across [Monday] night alone, the weather prevented many of our staff and service partners from being able to get to work safely.”

Environment and Climate Change Canada has continued its Extreme Cold Warning for southern Alberta that was issued Monday, suggesting it will warm up over the weekend. Temperatures Wednesday in Calgary are -30ºC and -43ºC with windchill, and in Edmonton, it is -33ºC and -45ºC with windchill.

The agency also issued an Arctic Outflow Warning for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. The weather service suggests windchill temperatures could drop between -25ºC and -20ºC for Metro Vancouver and -30ºC to -25ºC for the eastern parts of the Valley through Thursday afternoon.

-With files from Charlie Carey and Mark Strashok.