WestJet service update: B.C. Winter Storm (December 22-23)
WestJet has proactively cancelled flights to and from Vancouver, Abbotsford, Victoria, Nanaimo and Comox until late afternoon Friday, December 23, dependent on weather
Due to a second significant winter storm system, scheduled to impact Vancouver and the Southern B.C. region beginning on the evening of Thursday, December 22, WestJet has proactively cancelled all scheduled arriving and departing Vancouver International Airport (YVR) beginning at 11:50 p.m. PST, until the late afternoon of Friday, December 23, dependent on weather conditions. In addition, flights have been proactively cancelled at Abbotsford International Airport (YXX), Victoria International Airport (YYJ), Nanaimo Airport (YCD) and Comox Airport (YQQ).
The proactive cancellations will impact 126 flights across the five airports and were made in consultation with airport authorities and NAV Canada. All impacted guests have been notified.
A statement from Diederik Pen, WestJet’s Chief Operations Officer:
“To our guests, we know how important your travel plans are at this time of year and every single WestJetter feels the weight of not being able to get you where you want to be. We sincerely apologize for the continued disruption many have or will experience and appreciate your continued patience and understanding. Our teams on the ground, in the air and behind the scenes are working tirelessly to recover our operations, while trying to limit further disruption to important holiday travel plans.
The prolonged and extreme weather events that continue to impact multiple regions across Canada are unlike anything we’ve experienced. With the additional storms forecasted to impact British Columbia, Southern Ontario and Quebec, we are taking a proactive and measured approach to protect our operations and prioritize recovery flying this weekend. The decision to stand down more flights is extremely difficult, but it is necessary, so that we can be best prepared to safely fly as many guests, with as little disruption as possible when the weather improves.”
Information for guests with cancelled flights to and from the Vancouver region and Vancouver Island:
Reaccommodation options are limited, where available options will be communicated through email.
Reaccommodation options offered are what is available, there are no alternative options by contacting our contact centre; contact centre wait times are extremely high. Guests are advised to please not go to the airport to seek reaccommodation options, our airport teams are not able to support further.
Additional information for guests impacted by cancelled flights can be found here.
The resumption of operations at each airport may vary upon local conditions. Up to date flight information on cancellations for specific airports can be accessed via WestJet’s flight status page and current travel advisories are posted online here: https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/advisories.
B.C. Storm cancellation summary
December 22 – 22 cancellations
December 23 – 104 cancellations
