Updated on Monday, January 14 at 2:10 p.m. MST
Monday, January 15
As weather conditions continue to improve in Calgary and across the prairie region of Canada, WestJet has made significant progress in stabilizing our operation today. Regular operations are expected to resume tomorrow, Tuesday, January 16 as forecasted weather conditions continue to improve in the region.
To assist guests impacted by weather-related disruptions, WestJet is adding capacity and segments where possible.
We sincerely apologize to all impacted guests and appreciate their continued patience and understanding as we work tirelessly to recover our operations and limit any further disruption to our guest's important travel plans.
B.C. winter storm
Due to forecasted freezing rain forecasting to target B.C.’s Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, overnight on Tuesday, January 16, flexible change/cancel guidelines have been announced for guests travelling to or from Canada’s West Coast region between January 16 and January 17.
Total cancellation summary
January 15, 2024
72 flight cancellations
Sunday, January 14
We sincerely apologize to guests who have been impacted by cancellations and delays, resulting from ongoing extreme cold temperatures affecting Canada’s prairie region. With Calgary, AB as WestJet’s main hub and the majority of our operations based in Western Canada, the effects of four consecutive days of frigid temperatures are having a compounding impact on our operations, our crew and partners who are battling these conditions to maintain our network.
Our Guest Support teams are working diligently to provide reaccommodation options to all impacted guests as quickly as possible; however, due to the continued severe weather, options remain limited.
Flexible Change/Cancel guidelines have been announced for guests travelling to or from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba between January 11 and January 15, 2024.
In an effort to assist those with imminent travel plans, we ask guests to refrain from contacting us until 72 hours in advance of their flight; this allows us to ensure we prioritizing immediate travel support for those who are closest to their travel date.
Additionally, we encourage guests to validate that their contact information is up to date within their booking to ensure they are receiving communication on their reservation and food and accommodation options, if eligible.
To self-manage your upcoming trip, please visit our self-serve hub.
Total cancellation summary
January 14, 2024
120 flight cancellations
Saturday, January 13
Extreme cold impacting larger prairie region of Canada
Due to ongoing extreme cold weather conditions targeting Canada’s prairie region, WestJet continues to face significant operational impacts cascading throughout our network. This morning on January 13, 2023, temperatures rendered de-icing fluid ineffective in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Kelowna, Kamloops, Fort McMurray, Prince George, Grand Prairie, Yellowknife and Fort St. John. Additionally, to ensure safety above all, we continue to limit the amount of time our crews and ground partners are working outside, while frigid temperatures leave essential equipment such as bridges and fuel stations, inoperable.
Flexible Change/Cancel guidelines have been announced for guests travelling to or from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba between January 11 and January 15, 2024.
Ontario winter storm
Overnight on Friday, January 12, a winter storm system impacted WestJet operations in Ontario, resulting in 9 flight diversions to and from Toronto, as follows:
- WS2515 HUXYYZ diverted to YOW
- WS2653 SXMYYZ diverted to YOW
- WS2513 BGIYYZ diverted to BUF
- WS1115 LASYYZ diverted to YQB
- WS2645 LIRYYZ diverted to YQT
- WS670 YYCYYZ diverted to YQB - Successful reattempt to land in YYZ
- WS714 YVRYYZ diverted to YQB - Successful reattempt to land in YYZ
- WS2199 AUAYYZ diverted to BUF
- WS9228 CUNYYZ diverted to YUL
Flexible Change/Cancel guidelines have been announced for guests travelling to or from Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener and London, Ontario between January 12 and January 13, 2024.
Guests travelling today are advised to check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport. Due to high wait times, guests are advised to refrain from contacting our Contact Centre until 72 hours in advance of their flight to ensure we can prioritize immediate travel support for those guests with imminent travel plans.
To self-manage your upcoming trip, please visit our self-serve hub.
Total cancellation summary
January 13, 2024
153 flight cancellations
January 12, 2024
The extreme cold weather conditions and intermittent precipitation primarily affecting Alberta and the larger prairie region of Canada, are having an impact on our operations. As temperatures drop below the threshold at which de-icing fluid is effective and rendering equipment such as bridges and fuel stations inoperable, out of an abundance of caution for safety, we are limiting the amount of time our crews and ground partners are working outside.
WestJet is proactively managing its operations and has implemented several cancellations as required. All impacted guests have been notified and provided with reaccommodation options as available.
“We sincerely thank our guests for their ongoing patience as our teams and partners on the ground, in the air and behind the scenes work tirelessly, battling frigid temperatures, to ensure a safe operation,” said David Powell, WestJet Vice-President, Airports. “Your travel plans are extremely important to us, and we are committed to providing timely and proactive communication as we work to restore our operations as the weather forecast evolves.”
While extreme temperatures are most significantly affecting Canada’s prairie region, the severity of the weather events impacting our operations are affecting travel across WestJet’s network.
Guests travelling today are advised to check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport. Due to high wait times, guests are advised to refrain from contacting our Contact Centre until 72 hours in advance of their flight to ensure we can prioritize immediate travel support for those guests with imminent travel plans.
Flexible Change/Cancel guidelines have been announced for guests travelling to or from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba between January 11 and January 15, 2024.
To self-manage your upcoming trip, please visit our self-serve hub.
Total cancellation summary
January 11, 2024
87 flight cancellations
January 12, 2024
104 flight cancellations