Cancellations at YYZ due to winter weather; airlines activate flexible policies

Snow and freezing rain in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) on Wednesday (Feb. 18) has triggered a travel advisory at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ).

“We are closely monitoring today’s forecast wintry storm that could bring snow, ice and rain to the Greater Toronto Area, including the airport,” wrote the airport on its X social media account Wednesday morning. “Our crews are standing by to treat runways, taxiways and the apron if ice develops and are ready to deploy plows to clear critical areas if freezing rain turns to snow.”

A winter storm yellow warning has been issued for Toronto as a weather system moves in, bringing snow, freezing rain, and ice pellets that could lead to hazardous travel conditions.

According to Environment Canada, Toronto and the GTA may receive up to five centimetres of combined snow and ice pellets, along with several hours of freezing precipitation.

It could lead to ice accumulation of a few millimetres, making roads and sidewalks slippery and potentially dangerous, the weather agency said.

“Roads and walkways will likely be difficult to navigate. There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic. Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions. Allow extra time for travel,” Environment Canada noted in an advisory.

Meanwhile, at Toronto Pearson, the airport’s deicing facility is fired up and traffic management initiatives are in place “to help ensure aircraft can move safely and efficiently throughout the day,” the airport wrote on X.

Disruptions are expected, however. A quick look at Pearson’s Wednesday morning departures board already shows multiple cancelled and delayed flights.

Other parts of southern Ontario, including Hamilton, are under an orange freezing rain warning. Those areas could see ice accretion of five to 10 millimetres, Environment Canada says. 

Airlines activate flexible rebooking policies

Air Canada has updated its daily travel outlook page to reflect the icy conditions at both Toronto Pearson and Billy Bishop (YTZ) airports, noting that “flights may be impacted by snow and freezing rain.”

In response, the airline has revised its ticketing policy for Feb. 18 to make it easier for customers travelling on an affected flight to make changes to their booking without penalty (space permitting).

If a flight is affected, customers can retrieve their booking to change their flight free of charge. Travellers are also being advised to check the status of their flight in advance.

Customers who purchased a ticket with Air Canada Vacations are advised to contact the company directly at 1-800-296-3408.

Other parts of Canada are also bracing for a stretch of severe weather. In response, Air Canada has also introduced flexible rebooking options for flights departing from Regina, Saskatoon, and St. John’s, Newfoundland.

WestJet, too, has activated a flexible change policy for flights in southern Ontario, inclusive of Toronto Pearson.

The policy, which applies to travel on Feb. 18 and 19, allows customers to make a $0 one-time change to their booking.

“If you change your destination, the difference in fare applies. Any residual funds are refunded,” the airline writes. Click here for complete details.

Porter Airlines, as well, is warning customers of disruptions brought on by freezing rain in Toronto.

In a notice posted to its website, the airline directs customers to check their booking to see if their flight is eligible for complimentary changes.

“A waiver may be issued for select flights, allowing passengers to change their bookings to fly earlier or later than scheduled, avoiding potential travel disruptions,” Porter writes.

“If your flight is cancelled or delayed by 15 minutes or more, a flight notification will be sent to you. Passengers on eligible flights will be able to change or cancel their bookings online without penalty, space permitting,” the airline adds.

Porter has also issued travel advisories for Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, St. John’s, Thunder Bay and Winnipeg due to severe winter conditions.

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