Over Three Hundred Flights Cancelled and Delayed Across Canada as Air Canada, WestJet, Delta, United, Lufthansa, Japan, British, Air France and More Face New Disruptions at Toronto Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau, Vancouver Due to Severe Weather – Travel And Tour World

Severe weather triggered widespread travel chaos across Canada, forcing airlines to cancel and delay over three hundred flights at Toronto Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau, and Vancouver International Airports. Powerful wind gusts, heavy rain, and thunderstorms disrupted flight operations throughout the day, affecting major carriers including Air Canada, WestJet, Delta, United, Lufthansa, Japan Airlines, British Airways, and Air France. The unexpected weather systems stalled aircraft on tarmacs, grounded regional and international routes, and left thousands of passengers facing long delays and missed connections at the peak of the summer travel season.

Toronto Pearson Experiences Major Weather Disruptions

At Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada’s busiest air travel hub, flight operations were thrown into disarray as strong winds swept across the airfield, making it difficult for aircraft to depart or land safely. Throughout the day, 152 flights were delayed while 13 flights were cancelled, marking the highest number of disruptions recorded at any Canadian airport during the day.

Among the hardest-hit airlines was Air Canada, which had 30 delayed flights and 2 cancellations, affecting routes to key destinations across North America and Europe. WestJet reported 25 delays and 2 cancellations, while Jazz Aviation, which provides essential regional connectivity, recorded 32 delayed and 3 cancelled flights. U.S.-based Republic Airlines, operating feeder routes for larger carriers, also had 7 delays and 4 cancellations, a significant impact for a regional operator.

International carriers were not spared. Air India, which operates long-haul routes from Toronto to India, had 3 delays and 2 cancellations, affecting hundreds of passengers. United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, EVA Air, and Lufthansa all faced schedule disruptions due to wind advisories and runway slowdowns.

Flight crews reported extended ground time, delayed boarding, and holding patterns in the air as controllers managed reduced capacity on active runways. Passenger queues at check-in counters and security checkpoints grew longer throughout the day, with many travelers missing onward connections due to the unexpected weather issues.

Thunderstorms Bring Delays and Cancellations to Montreal-Trudeau

In Montreal, a series of thunderstorms combined with strong wind gusts led to the cancellation of 10 flights and the delay of 62 others at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport. As storm cells moved across southern Quebec, ground operations slowed dramatically, with frequent lightning strikes forcing temporary ground stops and outdoor crew evacuations.

Jazz Aviation experienced the heaviest impact, with 11 delayed flights and 7 cancellations—a sharp blow to Canada’s domestic network. Air Canada, which uses Montreal as a major hub for both European and East Coast U.S. routes, saw 18 delays and 1 cancellation, while Porter Airlines recorded 3 delays and 2 cancellations.

International carriers struggled to keep their schedules intact. British Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Tunis Air, and Air France reported transatlantic delays, as aircraft waited for better weather to cross the Atlantic or depart safely from the storm-hit tarmac. Regional and charter operators such as Air Creebec, Canadian North, Air Algerie, Envoy Air, and Republic also faced disruption on routes servicing Quebec’s outlying communities and Indigenous territories.

The fluctuating storm activity led to wave after wave of boarding delays, equipment repositioning issues, and stranded passengers waiting for updates. Despite early warning systems in place, the strength and timing of the storms caught many carriers mid-turnaround, causing additional complications with aircraft availability and gate assignments.

Vancouver Affected by Heavy Rain and Poor Visibility

On the west coast, Vancouver International Airport reported 74 delayed flights and 2 cancellations as the region grappled with persistent rain, cloud cover, and visibility problems. While Vancouver avoided thunderstorms, the volume of rain reduced runway throughput, slowed ground services, and created operational constraints throughout the day.

Among the affected carriers:

• Air Canada led the list with 17 delayed flights
• WestJet and its regional branch, WestJet Encore, logged over 12 combined delays
• Jazz Aviation reported 7 delays and 1 cancellation
• Air India cancelled one long-haul departure to Asia

Other international airlines including British Airways, Korean Air, Edelweiss Air, All Nippon Airways, China Airlines, Japan Airlines, Philippine Airlines, ZIPAIR, and Lufthansa experienced varying degrees of delay. Some flights were pushed back by over an hour, while others were held on the tarmac due to backlog at the departure gates.

Low-cost and regional carriers such as Flair Airlines, Pacific Coastal Airlines, Horizon Air, and Cargojet also faced performance slowdowns, particularly on short-haul domestic routes. Poor taxiway visibility added to arrival delays, making it difficult for ground staff to coordinate aircraft movement during peak evening hours.

Cross-Border Disruptions Spread to U.S. Flights

The weather disruptions in Canada also spilled into cross-border traffic with the United States, particularly at Pearson and Montreal-Trudeau. At Toronto Pearson alone, 45 of the delayed flights and 7 of the cancellations involved U.S.-bound or arriving routes. Carriers including American Airlines, United, Delta, and JetBlue all reported delays linked to poor conditions on the Canadian side.

Montreal recorded 16 U.S.-related delays, while Vancouver saw 26 delayed flights tied to U.S. connections. These impacts were further compounded by air traffic control flow restrictions, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinated reduced arrival rates to major U.S. airports handling incoming Canadian traffic.

As a result, international passengers experienced cascading delays, missed transfers, and confusion at customs areas. Travelers heading to and from major cities like New York, Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco were advised to check flight times frequently and rebook if needed.

International Airlines Also Hit by Delays

Long-haul international airlines operating in and out of Canada were deeply impacted by the day’s weather chaos. European flag carriers like Air France, British Airways, and Lufthansa faced delayed turnarounds and late departures, complicating their multi-leg global schedules. Asian airlines such as Japan Airlines, Korean Air, and EVA Air also had to postpone flights or alter departure windows to accommodate weather-sensitive routing and ground crew restrictions.

Middle Eastern and Pacific carriers like Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Philippine Airlines, and ZIPAIR were caught in the disruption as well. Flights scheduled to depart during weather peaks were either rescheduled or redirected to alternative gates, adding to terminal congestion and logistical challenges for staff and passengers alike.

Canadian Airports Urge Caution as Summer Travel Picks Up

In response to the massive disruption, airport authorities in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver activated emergency staffing plans, mobilized communication teams, and posted real-time advisories across terminal screens, websites, and apps. Airlines, meanwhile, offered fee waivers and flexible rebooking for affected travelers.

Passengers were urged to arrive early, monitor flight updates, and prepare for longer wait times at check-in, security, and boarding gates. With the summer travel season in full swing, airlines warned that additional delays could occur in the coming days if adverse weather continues.

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)

Total Cancellations: 13
Cause: Strong Winds

• Republic – 4 cancelled
• Jazz – 3 cancelled
• Air India – 2 cancelled
• WestJet – 2 cancelled
• Air Canada – 2 cancelled

Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)

Total Cancellations: 10
Cause: Thunderstorms and Wind

• Jazz – 7 cancelled
• Porter Airlines – 2 cancelled
• Air Canada – 1 cancelled

Toronto City Centre / Billy Bishop (YTZ)

Total Cancellations: 9
Cause: Wind and Rain

• Porter Airlines – 6 cancelled
• Jazz – 3 cancelled

Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Total Cancellations: 2
Cause: Rain and Low Visibility

• Air India – 1 cancelled
• Jazz – 1 cancelled

Disruption Summary

• Total Flights Disrupted: Over 300
• Cancellations: 13 at Toronto Pearson, 10 at Montreal-Trudeau, 2 at Vancouver
• Delays: 152 at Pearson, 62 at Montreal, 74 at Vancouver
• Main Causes: High winds, thunderstorms, heavy rain, low visibility
• Airlines Affected: Air Canada, WestJet, Jazz, Republic, Porter, Delta, United, Air India, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, and more

Over three hundred flights were cancelled and delayed across Canada as severe wind, thunderstorms, and heavy rain disrupted operations at Toronto Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau, and Vancouver airports. Major airlines including Air Canada, WestJet, Delta, United, Lufthansa, Japan Airlines, British Airways, and Air France were forced to ground or delay flights amid dangerous flying conditions.

As weather patterns across Canada remain unstable, travelers are encouraged to stay alert, pack essentials in carry-on luggage, and remain flexible in case further adjustments are needed. Airlines and airports continue to monitor forecasts closely and prepare for potential disruptions in the days ahead.