Air Canada has been dealing with widespread flight disruptions as winter storms sweep across Eastern Canada, coupled with an aircraft crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Over the past six days, the airline has had to cancel approximately 1,300 flights as strong winds and heavy snowfall affected operations in Montreal and Toronto. Large-scale snow removal efforts remain ongoing in both cities.
The disruptions intensified after an Endeavor Air MHIRJ CRJ900 crashed at Toronto Pearson on January 17. The aircraft, operated by a Delta subsidiary, caught fire and overturned after a hard landing on a snow-covered runway. All 80 people on board, including 76 passengers and four crew members, managed to escape the aircraft. Weather conditions at the time of the incident included strong winds, which may have played a role in the crash. The accident led to several hours of closure at Toronto Pearson.
The airline has been forced to adjust its operations due to the extreme conditions and the impact of the aircraft crash on available capacity. According to flight-tracking data from FlightAware, about 200 departures were canceled on February 17 and 18, while nearly 40% of Air Canada’s scheduled flights faced delays.
Delta reported that 21 passengers sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals. By the morning of February 18, 19 of them had been released. The airline has been working closely with authorities to assess the situation while managing ongoing disruptions.
Aside from Air Canada, Other Airlines Also Affected
Porter Airlines, based in Toronto, has also been dealing with operational challenges due to severe weather. On February 18, about 40% of its flights were delayed, adding to the widespread travel disruptions across the region.
Meanwhile, WestJet, headquartered in Calgary, appears to have been less affected by the disruptions in Eastern Canada, as the airline’s main operations are centered in Western hubs.
Air Canada has assured passengers that it remains focused on safety, despite the inconvenience caused by the disruptions. “We recognize that travel disruptions are inconvenient for customers, but safety must always be our top priority and sometimes ensuring safe travel requires slowing down and adapting to conditions,” the airline stated.
With winter storms continuing to impact the region, Air Canada and other airlines are expected to face further operational challenges. While recovery efforts are underway, the combination of extreme weather and reduced capacity at Toronto Pearson has made this an especially difficult period for the airline industry in Canada.
