Extreme cold, wind ground hundreds of flights in Toronto's main airport

A record winter cold accompanied by high winds has forced airlines to cancel hundreds of flights from Toronto's main Pearson International Airport in past few days.

Roving Correspondent, Torontobdnews24.com
Published : 2 Jan 2018, 06:46 PM
Updated : 2 Jan 2018, 06:46 PM

"A total of 64 flights have been cancelled this morning that include 35 incoming and 29 outbound flights," an airport official who identified herself as 'Particia' told bdnews24.com on Tuesday.

Over 200 flights were cancelled on Monday.

"I don't have the exact count right now but it's severed hundreds in last one week," she said.

On Dec 28, Toronto broke a 67-year cold record when the mercury dropped to 22-degree Celsius below freezing with a windchill of about -30 degrees.

The city was put under extreme cold warning with 10cm to 15cm of snowfalls and bone-chilling temperature which set into the region a few days before that.

High winds and severe wintry conditions led to hundreds of cancellations at Canada's busiest airport despite an extreme cold weather alert lifted for Toronto and the surrounding area on Tuesday.

Toronto Pearson is ranked one of 30 busiest airports in the world with around 1,100 daily flights by 65 airlines for around 180 destinations that include all the major Asian countries.

Greater Toronto Airports Authority or GTAA spokesperson Beverly MacDonald told CBC Television the windy weather resulted in a number of flights being cancelled or delayed in the afternoon through to the evening on Monday.

"As of 8:45pm, more than 200 flights had been cancelled, including 119 arrivals and 106 departures.

"It's just a lower rate to make sure that, in between each flight, everything is smooth and efficient on the ground, and safe, MacDonald was quoted as saying.

"So, instead of trying to have higher numbers taking off or departing at once, we just reduce that rate so that we can ensure the safety of everyone," CBC Television added, quoting him.

He, however, said it was the airlines, not the airport, that made the decision about which flights get cancelled.

Airlines and the airport authorities have asked the passengers to check their flight schedule before they leave home for the airport.

Meanwhile, the Environment Canada has lifted extreme cold weather alerts for the city and many surrounding regions for Tuesday.

Tuesday's forecast high is –7 degrees Celsius, and the forecast low is –15 C, but will feel more like –25 C with the wind.

Regular flights will be able to resume if the winds decrease, GTAA spokesperson  MacDonald said.