Canada faced a new wave of travel chaos on Thursday as over 270 flights were cancelled or delayed due to severe rain and wind disruptions that swept across major airports in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Halifax, hitting operations for Air Canada, WestJet, Jazz, Porter, Air France, Lufthansa, Alaska, American, United, British Airways, All Nippon, Cathay Pacific, and dozens more. The weather system, which brought low visibility, slick runways, and gusty crosswinds, forced airlines to ground aircraft, reroute schedules, and delay departures across both domestic and international routes, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and scrambling to rebook in the peak of summer travel season.
The brunt of the disruption hit Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal-Trudeau, and Halifax, where rainfall and gusty conditions overwhelmed airline schedules, ground operations, and airport coordination. While passengers tried to remain patient, many found themselves grounded for hours, rerouted, or left scrambling for hotel rooms and new itineraries.
In Vancouver, 73 flights were delayed and 5 cancelled. The conditions were especially hard on Air Canada, WestJet, and Jazz, which faced mounting scheduling challenges. Air India, All Nippon, Cathay Pacific, Air France, British Airways, and Lufthansa also reported knock-on effects, despite operating international long-haul services that generally enjoy higher scheduling priority.
Calgary International Airport faced the most cancellations of any airport, with 9 flights grounded and 79 delayed. Most of these involved WestJet and WestJet Encore, both headquartered in the city, with the two carriers absorbing the lion’s share of the operational fallout. High wind gusts in the region also created difficulty for regional carriers like Central Mountain Air and Discover, forcing temporary halts in boarding and aircraft repositioning.
Montreal-Trudeau reported 76 delays and 11 cancellations, making it another major pain point for travelers. Air Canada Rouge, Jazz, and Porter Airlines accounted for the majority of affected flights, while transatlantic players like KLM, Air France, and Lufthansa cancelled key connections due to weather-linked safety concerns.
Travelers flying with Air Transat, PAL Airlines, PSA, and Republic Airways also saw delays that ranged from 10 minutes to over 90 minutes as apron operations slowed under persistent showers and swirling winds.
Out on the East Coast, Halifax International experienced 19 flight delays and 5 cancellations, mostly driven by low-visibility conditions from rain and wind. Porter Airlines and Air Canada Rouge once again felt the sting, with several regional services to Toronto and Ottawa impacted.
International carriers such as American Airlines, All Nippon Airways, and British Airways also recorded minor disruptions to their inbound and outbound operations in the region, often compounding passenger frustrations as flight crews struggled to rotate in real-time.
In total, the following airlines experienced delays or cancellations during this weather-fueled meltdown:Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air China, Air France, Air Inuit, Air Saint Pierre, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, British Airways, Cargojet, Cathay Pacific, Central Mountain Air, China Airlines, Condor, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss Air, Endeavor Air, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Flair Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Horizon Air, Jazz Aviation, JetBlue, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Lufthansa, PAL Airlines, Pacific Coastal Airlines, Pascan Aviation, Philippine Airlines, Piedmont Airlines, Porter Airlines, PSA Airlines, Republic Airways, Royal Air Maroc, SkyWest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Air Transat, United Airlines, WestJet, and WestJet Encore.
This list paints a picture of how widespread and indiscriminate the disruption was, affecting nearly every segment of the aviation ecosystem — from full-service international giants to small regional operators.
With operations crippled across multiple hubs, many travelers reported being stuck at gates for hours with little communication. Families headed for summer vacations, business travelers racing to meetings, and even international transit passengers faced lengthy layovers or missed connections.
Travelers reported the worst wait times at Montreal and Calgary, where some WestJet and Air Canada routes were delayed by more than three hours. Airlines struggled to reposition crews and aircraft, especially as ground handling became a bottleneck due to slippery ramps and slow baggage loading.
Meteorologists are warning that more unstable weather may be on the way, especially in the western provinces. If forecasts hold true, another wave of turbulence could hit operations into the weekend, putting additional pressure on already stretched airline staff and infrastructure.
Airlines have encouraged passengers to check their flight status frequently, opt into text or email alerts, and arrive at the airport early to navigate longer check-in and security lines triggered by cascading delays.
Here is a detailed airport-wise breakdown of flight cancellations and delays, including the number of affected flights and impacted airlines:
Total Delays: 73Total Cancellations: 5Cause: Heavy Rain
Airlines Affected:
Total Delays: 79Total Cancellations: 9Cause: Rain and Wind
Airlines Affected:
Total Delays: 76Total Cancellations: 11Cause: Wind and Rain
Airlines Affected:
Total Delays: 19Total Cancellations: 5Cause: Wind and Rain
Airlines Affected:
Canada faced fresh travel chaos as over 270 flights were cancelled and delayed due to heavy rain and strong winds disrupting operations at Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Halifax airports. Major airlines including Air Canada, WestJet, Jazz, Porter, Air France, Lufthansa, Alaska, American, United, British Airways, All Nippon, and Cathay Pacific were all impacted by the severe weather.
This latest wave of flight disruptions arrives at the worst possible time for Canadian air travel. With peak summer season underway and travel volumes climbing toward pre-pandemic highs, any ripple in scheduling threatens to snowball quickly — stranding thousands, displacing crews, and overloading airport systems.
As Canada’s skies grow busier each day, both travelers and airlines will be hoping for clearer weather — and calmer skies — in the days ahead.
