A weekend ice storm responsible for dozens of flight delays and cancellations is still causing headaches for travellers as of Monday morning.
Airlines are continuing to advise customers to call ahead to see if their flights have been affected. Air Canada is still waiving rebooking fees for travellers impacted by the storm. Flights flying to, from or connecting at Toronto Pearson, Billy Bishop, Montreal-Trudeau, Ottawa's Macdonald-Cartier, as well as airports in Kingston, Ont., and Atlantic Canada may be affected by delays, the carrier's website cautions.
WestJet and Porter Airlines are also advising travellers to call in advance before leaving for the airport. Like Air Canada, both airlines are allowing customers to rebook by phone without charge.
So far 59 flights scheduled for Monday have been cancelled at Toronto Pearson, with the expectation that numbers will grow throughout the day. By comparison, the airport saw 229 cancellations on Sunday, according to Flightaware, a flight-tracking website.
These delays at Canada's busiest airport during the holiday season are sending a ripple effect across the nation, with many dealing with backlog from the weekend. B.C. also experienced ice and freezing rain, throwing an even larger wrench into the vacation plans for some flyers, like Jeff and Leslie Whittaker. The couple was delayed at Vancouver International after their WestJet flight was cancelled on Saturday and their Air Canada flight to the Caribbean was cancelled on Sunday.
"We're hoping that the people's airline has enough capacity and enough experience with this weather that they'll get us ... to Toronto in the morning," Jeff Whittaker said in an interview with the CBC.
Travellers from the East Coast weren't having much luck either. Patsy Hollett made her flight from St. John’s, N.L. only to be stranded at Pearson International Sunday. She and her husband were trying to catch a connecting flight to Kingston. Ont -- just 250 km away -- to visit their daughter for Christmas.
“It’s a real problem,” Hollett said. “But as long as you get to spend Christmas Day with (family), it’s OK," she told the Toronto Star.
There is some good news for travellers though.
Via Rail is telling its customers "it's business as usual" and there are no cancellations. Delays are to be expected, though, for anyone travelling on the Toronto-Ottawa, Toronto-Montreal, Toronto -New York or Halifax-Montreal routes.
Transportation within the Greater Toronto Area is also faring better compared to Sunday with TTC service and Go Transit resuming service with some delays.
Airlines are continuing to advise customers to call ahead to see if their flights have been affected. Air Canada is still waiving rebooking fees for travellers impacted by the storm. Flights flying to, from or connecting at Toronto Pearson, Billy Bishop, Montreal-Trudeau, Ottawa's Macdonald-Cartier, as well as airports in Kingston, Ont., and Atlantic Canada may be affected by delays, the carrier's website cautions.
WestJet and Porter Airlines are also advising travellers to call in advance before leaving for the airport. Like Air Canada, both airlines are allowing customers to rebook by phone without charge.
You can reach Air Canada's automated flight system at 1-888-422-7533.
Travellers flying with WestJet can call 1-888-937-8538 to rebook.
Flying with Porter? You can find out more about your flight at 1-888-619-8622.
So far 59 flights scheduled for Monday have been cancelled at Toronto Pearson, with the expectation that numbers will grow throughout the day. By comparison, the airport saw 229 cancellations on Sunday, according to Flightaware, a flight-tracking website.
These delays at Canada's busiest airport during the holiday season are sending a ripple effect across the nation, with many dealing with backlog from the weekend. B.C. also experienced ice and freezing rain, throwing an even larger wrench into the vacation plans for some flyers, like Jeff and Leslie Whittaker. The couple was delayed at Vancouver International after their WestJet flight was cancelled on Saturday and their Air Canada flight to the Caribbean was cancelled on Sunday.
"We're hoping that the people's airline has enough capacity and enough experience with this weather that they'll get us ... to Toronto in the morning," Jeff Whittaker said in an interview with the CBC.
Travellers from the East Coast weren't having much luck either. Patsy Hollett made her flight from St. John’s, N.L. only to be stranded at Pearson International Sunday. She and her husband were trying to catch a connecting flight to Kingston. Ont -- just 250 km away -- to visit their daughter for Christmas.
“It’s a real problem,” Hollett said. “But as long as you get to spend Christmas Day with (family), it’s OK," she told the Toronto Star.
There is some good news for travellers though.
Via Rail is telling its customers "it's business as usual" and there are no cancellations. Delays are to be expected, though, for anyone travelling on the Toronto-Ottawa, Toronto-Montreal, Toronto -New York or Halifax-Montreal routes.
Transportation within the Greater Toronto Area is also faring better compared to Sunday with TTC service and Go Transit resuming service with some delays.
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