Air Travel Crisis Grips Canada as Air Canada, Jazz, WestJet, Porter, PAL and More Airlines Struggle with 154 Cancelled Flights Across Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, Ottawa, and St. John’s Amid Relentless Winter Storms

An air travel crisis grips Canada as relentless winter storms paralyze the nation’s flight network. Currently, Air Canada, Jazz, WestJet, Porter, PAL, and more airlines are struggling to maintain operations amid severe meteorological conditions. Consequently, a staggering total of 154 cancelled flights has left thousands of passengers stranded in terminals. This weather-driven chaos stretches across Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, Ottawa, and St. John’s, affecting every major travel corridor. Hubs like Pearson and Trudeau are seeing the highest volume of grounded aircraft. Meanwhile, regional carriers like PAL face significant hurdles in the Atlantic provinces. Affected travelers should check flight statuses immediately and contact carriers for rebooking.

Airlines are currently prioritizing safety while they navigate these relentless winter storms. Because these 154 cancelled flights are weather-related, carriers are actively updating their travel advisories. Monitor mobile apps for real-time updates while this aviation crisis grips Canada. A brutal combination of relentless winter weather and the lingering reach of Storm Fernando has brought Canada’s aviation network to a crawl today, Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Data from the country’s busiest hubs reveals a mounting logistical crisis, with a staggering 314 total delays and 154 total cancellations reported across the nation’s major airports.

Analysis: The Hubs and Carriers Hardest Hit

The disruption data paints a clear picture of a system under extreme duress, with certain regions and regional carriers bearing the brunt of the atmospheric instability.

Airport Impact: The Hub Bottleneck

• Toronto Pearson (YYZ): Standing as the epicentre of the disruption, Pearson recorded 146 delays and 66 cancellations. As Canada’s primary global gateway, the congestion here is preventing aircraft from reaching secondary cities, effectively “starving” the rest of the network of available planes.
• Montreal-Trudeau (YUL): Close behind with 49 delays and 30 cancellations, Montreal is dealing with the direct inflow of Storm Fernando’s western edge.
• Atlantic Canada (Halifax & St. John’s): The Maritimes are seeing a high ratio of cancellations to delays. Halifax (YHZ) reported 19 delays and 16 cancellations, while St. John’s (YYT) saw 14 cancellations against just 4 delays, suggesting that weather conditions in Newfoundland have reached a point where ground stops are more common than mere wait times.
• Western & Regional Hubs: Vancouver (YVR) reported 54 delays but only 6 cancellations, indicating that while the West is relatively clear, transcontinental flights are arriving late. Ottawa (YOW) and Quebec City (YQB) faced a combined 33 delays and 14 cancellations.

Carrier Impact: Regional vs. National

• Jazz (ACA): The regional carrier is in a state of “Critical Impact,” with 40 cancellations and 42 delays, representing 11% of its total operation in both categories.
• Air Canada & WestJet: The national giants are struggling with volume. Air Canada saw 83 delays (15% of its flights), while WestJet recorded 55 delays.
• Regional Specialists: PAL Airlines (17 cancellations) and Air Borealis (4 cancellations) are seeing high percentage-based hits to their smaller fleets, largely due to their exposure to the severe conditions in Northern and Atlantic regions.

Why This is Happening: Winter’s Triple Threat

The primary driver is the sheer intensity of Storm Fernando, which has dumped record snowfall across the Maritimes. However, the crisis at Toronto Pearson and Montreal-Trudeau is exacerbated by extreme cold. When temperatures drop below -25°C, de-icing fluids must be applied in more complex stages, leading to the 90-minute taxiway wait times that contributed to today’s 314 delays.

Additionally, the “crew timeout” phenomenon is in full effect. Many pilots and flight attendants have reached their legal duty-time limits while waiting on de-icing pads, forcing airlines like Air Canada Rouge (22 delays) and Porter (24 delays) to scrub flights even when the weather briefly clears.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

Under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), passengers have specific rights, though weather-related events are often classified as “outside airline control.”

1. Check Your Rebooking Status: Large carriers (Air Canada, WestJet) are required to rebook you on the next available flight within 48 hours. If they cannot, they may be required to book you on a competitor’s flight.
2. Monitor Travel Advisories: Most airlines have issued “Winter Weather Waivers” for February 25. This allows you to voluntarily change your flight to a later date (typically within the next 7-14 days) without paying a change fee or fare difference.
3. Document Everything: If you are stranded at the airport for over two hours, airlines should provide “standards of treatment,” including food and drink vouchers and access to communication (Wi-Fi). Keep receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses for your insurance claims.
4. Wait it Out: With 154 cancellations currently in the system, hotel rooms near Pearson and Montreal-Trudeau are in high demand. If your flight is cancelled, try to use the airline’s mobile app for rebooking rather than joining the hours-long queues at customer service desks.

Source: FlightAware

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