Vancouver airport restricting international flights to clear storm backlog
The number of international flights allowed to land in Vancouver will be restricted over two of the busiest travel days of the year as the airport works to clear a backlog of planes following widespread delays and cancellations during a snowstorm on Tuesday.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) said the decision affects more than two dozen international flights scheduled to land between Wednesday and Friday, just ahead of the Christmas weekend.
RELATED: Passengers stuck for hours on YVR tarmac as storm cancels flights
"A significant number of aircraft remain at YVR [after the snowstorm], which has led to congestion on our airfield and limited our ability to facilitate arriving and departing flights," read a statement from the airport on Wednesday.
"Our focus is to depart aircraft from the airport and get crews and passengers safely on their way. Therefore, we will be temporarily limiting arriving international flights for approximately 48 hours."
The airport temporarily suspended operations after an unusually heavy snowfall across B.C.'s South Coast on Monday night through Tuesday morning, leading to hundreds of cancelled or delayed flights.
WATCH: Sights around B.C. as an unusual winter blast enveloped the province
Both days were expected to be some the airport's busiest of the year, with more than 134,000 combined travellers passing through.
In an interview on Wednesday, YVR's vice president said the airport was back to about 60 per cent of its typical operating levels as of midday, but the situation won't be fully back to normal for days.
"The weather is not as it was ... but we are still into de-icing," said Mike McNaney, who is also the airport's chief external affairs officer.
"So there is still going to be delays, and there will still be cancellations in the days to come as we process through all that the last storm brought to us."
A passenger rests on the floor at Vancouver International Airport after a heavy snowfall led to mass cancellations on Tuesday. Delays and cancellations will continue Wednesday. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
McNaney said the airport's de-icing crews were out in full force at the peak of the snowstorm overnight Monday, but snow was building up on planes faster than staff could clear it off for a safe takeoff.
"All these aircraft ... they worked their way through de-icing then had to return either back to the gate, back to apron, or get back into a de-icing line — and all of this created then the incredible congestion that we were seeing in the airfield," he said.
"Then you have a cascading impact on top of that, as flights begin to cancel because air crews are hitting their maximum duty times that they can operate or needing to refuel," he continued.
"So all of that came together, unfortunately."
A passenger is pictured navigating mass delays at Vancouver International Airport on Tuesday after a heavy snowfall. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Dozens of planes sitting on the tarmac were stuck in limbo overnight Monday, unable to take off or find a gate to let stranded passengers deplane — even, for some, after 12 hours.
McNaney said the airport brought "air stairs" to planes that didn't have gates to allow some passengers to exit directly onto the tarmac, but the process was slow in the icy conditions.
"When you were doing an air stairs offloading of an aircraft, particularly in the middle of the storm and particularly when things are icing up, it is a very, very slow process to even deplane one aircraft," he said, adding air stairs can only take one passenger at a time.
The domestic terminal was already full before dawn Wednesday, with hundreds of stranded travellers crowding customer service desks or sleeping on the floor in hallways and bathrooms with winter coats for pillows and blankets.
PHOTOS: Travel virtually impossible as B.C. digs out from snow wallop
More snow is possible overnight on Thursday. McEnany said the airport will be fully staffed with all of its de-icing equipment on standby but the airport will not be able to keep up if the snow falls as it did earlier in the week.
"The overall issue of it, it's just the sheer volume of the snow and then the sheer volume of aircraft turning back," he said.
A vehicle clears snow off the Vancouver International Airport tarmac after a heavy snowfall on Dec. 20. A spokesperson for YVR said the number of cancelled flights was unprecedented, and the focus late Tuesday was assisting travellers at the terminal. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
The Canadian Transportation Agency, an independent tribunal that provides consumer protection for air passengers across the country, said Wednesday its team is proactively responding to the situation.
"The [agency] has designated enforcement officers on site gathering information, which involves several airlines, and will take appropriate actions as necessary," a spokesperson said in an email.
A statement from WestJet, just one of dozens of airlines using the airport, said it cancelled hundreds of flights this week due to weather in B.C. and Alberta.
Those trying to fly out of B.C. airports, including travellers at YVR pictured here, were met with delays beginning Monday night, followed by cancellations and uncertainty as severe winter weather dumped snow across the province. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
"Pretty bummed ... everyone was bummed," said Hassan Khan, who gave up and drove home to Langley, B.C., after his family's plane to Hawaii never managed to leave the departure gate in Vancouver on Monday night.
FORECAST: Snow, risk of freezing rain could complicate holiday travel in B.C.
Airports, airlines across B.C. overwhelmed
A spokesperson at Kelowna's airport, where many flights were also delayed or cancelled due to the weather, also declined an interview but said disrupted flights would continue to cause compounding issues for travellers.
The spokesperson said it was up to airlines to determine how to prioritize re-bookings and travellers should check with airlines directly.
Air Canada said it was waiving re-booking fees and offering vouchers for people scheduled to fly in and out of YVR up until Dec. 25.
"We are working to get aircraft and crew which are out of position back on track following B.C.'s unprecedented winter storm," said the airline, referring to Wednesday as a "recovery day."
Travellers are offered free snacks at Vancouver International Airport after a heavy snowfall on Dec. 20. A spokesperson for YVR is asking people to refrain from coming to the airport unless they need to. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
In a statement, WestJet said there were 210 flight cancellations on Tuesday, mainly due to disruptions in Vancouver and frigid temperatures in Calgary and Edmonton. They also said there were 146 flight cancellations on Monday and 104 on Sunday.
WATCH: Winter storm threatens hefty snow, ice to B.C. South Coast
Another 130 WestJet flights were cancelled Wednesday. The airline said nine flights scheduled for Thursday have been cancelled, a number that is expected to increase.
The airline said "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."
People travelling between Wednesday and Dec. 26 can proactively cancel their booking for a full refund on their website, it added.
Transport Canada said it is monitoring the situation. A statement acknowledged delays are frustrating for passengers, especially over the holidays, but said planes must be properly de-iced and cleared of snow before takeoff.
Travellers are pictured at Vancouver International Airport after a heavy snowfall on Dec. 20. One airline is advising travellers with flights between now and Dec. 26 that they can proactively cancel their booking for a full refund. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
'Just make other plans,' passenger says
Khan's family waited at Vancouver International Airport all night to try to get information from WestJet on how to reschedule the flight. He said fellow passengers were there just trying to locate their checked bags.
For Khan and his family, the Hawaii vacation is off — they booked through an online company that wasn't able to re-book the five of them on a flight for at least three days, so they've been promised a refund.
His advice for anyone else trying to travel by air in the coming days?
"Get on the phones right away, because that's the only thing that's going to help you out," said Khan.
"Or just make other plans."
This article was originally published for CBC News. With files from Joel Ballard, Rafferty Baker and The Canadian Press
