TORONTO — More than 600 flights have been cancelled or delayed across Canada over the past two days as severe weather, staffing constraints, and international airspace rerouting caused widespread travel chaos at major airports.
Toronto Pearson International Airport bore the heaviest impact, with 240 delays and 34 cancellations on Saturday alone, according to FlightAware data.
On Sunday, disruptions shifted westward. Calgary International Airport recorded 33 cancellations and 48 delays, grounding hundreds of passengers on routes connecting Vancouver, Toronto, Kelowna, Regina, Montreal, and Winnipeg.
Severe weather triggers Saturday disruptions
Environment Canada issued weather warnings on Saturday as rainstorms and thunderstorms swept across Ontario and Quebec. Rainfall totals reached 15 to 40 millimetres in some areas.
Mild temperatures combined with snowmelt caused flooding on roads and at airports.
Frozen ground was unable to absorb the water, leading to runoff that delayed ground operations at Toronto Pearson and Montreal-Trudeau.
Thunderstorms continued through Saturday evening.
Airport disruptions recorded on March 8th
| Airport | Delays | Cancellations |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto Pearson (YYZ) | 240 | 34 |
| Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) | 77 | 11 |
| Vancouver (YVR) | 68 | 14 |
| Toronto City Centre (YTZ) | 38 | 6 |
| Ottawa (YOW) | 29 | 8 |
| Halifax (YHZ) | 23 | 5 |
| Edmonton (YEG) | 19 | 6 |
Source: FlightAware
Calgary hit hardest on Sunday
WestJet and its regional carrier WestJet Encore accounted for most of Sunday's disruptions at Calgary International Airport.
WestJet Encore recorded 16 cancellations and 13 delays. WestJet reported 13 cancellations and 6 delays. Air Canada saw 4 cancellations and 12 delays, according to FlightAware.
Several U.S.-bound flights were also affected, including routes to Chicago O'Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Seattle-Tacoma, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Houston.
Airlines report operational challenges
Air Canada reported 12 cancellations and 151 delays on Saturday, affecting 25 percent of its schedule. The carrier's regional partner Jazz saw 21 cancellations and 60 delays.
Air Canada's travel advisory page urges passengers to check flight status before travelling.
WestJet faced mounting pressure on Sunday after recording 68 delays on Saturday. The airline has posted rebooking options for affected passengers.
International airspace restrictions add pressure
Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has forced airlines to reroute international flights, adding to crew scheduling and aircraft positioning challenges.
Carriers operating transatlantic and Asia-Pacific routes have avoided airspace over Iran and neighbouring countries, extending flight times and complicating turnaround schedules at Canadian hubs.
What passengers should do
Airlines advise affected travellers to:
- Sign up for flight alerts and notifications
- Allow extra time at the airport due to operational adjustments
- Keep booking confirmations and travel documents accessible
- Contact the airline directly for rebooking if flights are cancelled
- Check flight status on airline websites or apps before departing for the airport
Detailed travel advisories are available on the WestJet website and Air Canada website.
Weather conditions are expected to improve through Monday, though airlines warn residual delays may continue as operations normalize.
