WestJet cancels flights due to “significant hail damage” to 16 planes

While Calgary airport (YYC) is up and running after a powerful hailstorm Monday night (Aug. 5) broke through the building’s roof, sending rainwater into the terminal, the facility’s main airline, WestJet, is in recovery mode. 

Apparently 16 aircraft across WestJet’s fleet were left significantly damaged from the storm, which reports say produced hail the size of baseballs.

Hail damage to aircraft led WestJet to cancel dozens of flights this week. As of early Wednesday morning, more than 70 arrivals and departures had been scrapped.

READ MORE: Cleanup at Calgary airport continues after powerful storm; flights operational

Sixteen WestJet planes — 10 per cent of its entire fleet — have been grounded and require “substantial repairs and inspections before returning to service,” WestJet wrote in a Wednesday statement.

“As an airline that is proud to call Calgary our home, the extreme weather events that occurred on Monday evening had a disproportionate impact on our people, who experienced damage to their homes and vehicles; our fleet, and our partners at YYC Calgary International Airport” said Diederik Pen, president of WestJet and group chief operating officer.

Pen said the severity and direction of the thunderstorm and hail became clear less than 30 minutes before impact.

“We are extremely appreciative of our people who took quick action, prioritizing safety above all while limiting damage to our fleet and operation, wherever possible,” he said.

Travel disruptions, flexible policies

As a result of the “significant impact” to WestJet’s fleet, cancellations will be implemented across the airline’s network to account for decreased capacity for the foreseeable future, the airline said.  

As of Wednesday (Aug. 7), 22 WestJet aircraft were on the ground, four were moved to its hangar for protection, nine were diverted and two were cleared with minor damage.

WestJet’s total flight cancellations for August 7 were 84 (on Tuesday, cancellations topped 106).

"All of us at WestJet, are incredibly disappointed to be disrupting the travel plans of our valued guests again this summer, and greatly appreciate your patience and understanding over the coming days as we weather the impact following this significant storm. As always, I am grateful that our people prioritized the safety of our guests and themselves and continue to do so as we work diligently to restore our aircraft and operation,” stated Pen.

In response to the storm, a travel advisory has been posted on WestJet.com and flexible change/cancel guidelines have been announced for all WestJet flight only bookings for travel between August 5 and August 8, 2024.

Guests are advised to check the status of their flight prior to leaving for the airport as further delays and cancellations may be required.

Customers can visit WestJet’s Guest Updates page for more information regarding flight status, travel changes and more. 

The cancellations add to a growing number of events so far this year that have upended travel plans, including the WestJet mechanics’ strike that grounded flights over the Canada Day long weekend and the January cold snap that left dozens of planes frozen on YYC’s tarmac.

Update on gates at YYC

Addressing the storm in a statement this week, the Calgary Airport Authority said its B gates will remain closed and water damage to this area of the terminal continues to be assessed. 

Some C gates are impacted, the airport added, saying that most gates remain operational.

The airport’s D (international/domestic) and E (U.S.) gates were not impacted by the storm and remain fully operational.

In response to the closure of all B gates and impacts to C gates, YYC is working with its airline partners to reaccommodate flights to gates that were not affected.

The Rental Car Centre is currently closed. However, all companies remain open and are able to assist guests, the airport said.

Guests will need to access the booths/kiosks that have been set up by the rental car companies on Level 3 of the P1 Parkade.

The elevator inside the Rental Car Centre from the Arrivals Level is also closed – guests can use the elevators in the Parkade across from Door 9.

Meanwhile, restoration crews are working around the clock to repair damage to affected areas of the terminal.

The airport said the total cost of the storm damage, and the amount of time required to complete repairs, are not known at this time.

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