Monday, June 30, 2025
Canada’s air travel system was thrown into turmoil on Sunday as bad weather triggered more than 550 flight cancellations and delays at Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Halifax airports, causing widespread disruptions for airlines and travelers alike. Heavy rain, gusty winds, and low visibility swept across key provinces, forcing ground crews to halt operations and air traffic controllers to limit runway activity, which in turn led to cascading delays, re-routings, and cancelled flights. Passengers across the country faced long waits, full terminals, and mounting frustration as major carriers like Porter Airlines, Air Canada, WestJet, and Jazz struggled to stabilize their schedules amid deteriorating conditions. From domestic routes to long-haul international flights, the weather-driven chaos left a trail of disruption through Canada’s busiest gateways, marking one of the most significant single-day travel impacts this summer.
What Happened
On Sunday, a fast-moving storm system moved across key Canadian provinces, bringing turbulent conditions to some of the country’s busiest airports. As ground operations slowed and flight schedules became erratic, travelers were met with sudden gate changes, hours-long delays, and last-minute flight cancellations.
By the end of the day, total disruptions had climbed to 567 flights, including 64 cancellations and 503 delays.
Airport-by-Airport Breakdown
Toronto Pearson International Airport saw the most severe impact, with 195 delays and 20 cancellations. Delays ranged from minor setbacks to several-hour holdups, affecting major carriers like Porter, Air Canada, Jazz, and WestJet.
Vancouver International Airport followed closely with 167 delayed flights and 20 cancelled, disrupting operations for both regional and long-haul airlines. Air Canada, Jazz, and WestJet were among the most affected, along with a slew of international carriers such as EVA Air, Korean Air, and Air France.
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport recorded 102 delays and 13 cancellations, impacting services from Porter, Jazz, PAL Airlines, and others, while Toronto City Centre Airport (Billy Bishop) added 17 delays and 9 cancellations, mostly affecting Porter Airlines operations.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport also faced its share of travel headaches, with 22 delayed flights and 2 cancellations, with disruption hitting Air Canada, Porter, and Flair Airlines.
Total Disruption Snapshot
- Total Flights Cancelled: 64
- Total Flights Delayed: 503
- Combined Total Affected Flights: 567
Breakdown by Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport
- Delayed Flights: 195
- Cancelled Flights: 20
- Most Affected Airlines:
- Porter Airlines: 8 cancellations, 29 delays
- Air Canada: 5 cancellations, 31 delays
- Jazz Aviation: 5 cancellations, 25 delays
- WestJet: 39 delays
- Air Canada Rouge: 1 cancellation, 20 delays
- Republic: 1 cancellation, 14 delays
International airlines also impacted include:
- Delta Air Lines: 4 delays
- Cathay Pacific: 3 delays
- Air France, EVA Air, Turkish Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Egypt Air, Copa Airlines: each with at least 1 delayed or cancelled flight.
Vancouver International Airport
- Delayed Flights: 167
- Cancelled Flights: 20
- Notable Impacts:
- Air Canada: 7 cancellations, 37 delays
- Jazz Aviation: 3 cancellations, 33 delays
- WestJet: 1 cancellation, 25 delays
- WestJet Encore: 2 cancellations, 20 delays
- Pacific Coastal Airlines: 5 cancellations, 11 delays
- Flair Airlines: 8 delays
Significant international delays included:
- Korean Air: 2 delays (100%)
- Air France: 2 delays (100%)
- Air India: 1 delay (100%)
- Japan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Edelweiss Air AG, Philippine Air Lines, China Airlines: each with 1 delay, many reaching 50–100% of scheduled service.
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport
- Delayed Flights: 102
- Cancelled Flights: 13
- Major Airlines Affected:
- Jazz: 7 cancellations, 26 delays
- Porter Airlines: 4 cancellations, 9 delays
- PAL Airlines: 2 cancellations
Additional international delays were logged by:
- Emirates, Swiss, TAP Air Portugal, Delta Air Lines, Royal Air Maroc, AeroMéxico, Air Algerie, Air France, and Air Canada Rouge.
Toronto City Centre Airport (Billy Bishop)
- Delayed Flights: 17
- Cancelled Flights: 9
- Key Impacts:
- Porter Airlines: 5 cancellations, 16 delays
- Jazz: 4 cancellations, 1 delay
Though a smaller hub, the near-total dominance by Porter meant nearly all its flights from Billy Bishop were affected.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport
- Delayed Flights: 22
- Cancelled Flights: 2
- Disruption Summary:
- Air Canada: 2 cancellations, 4 delays
- Porter Airlines: 6 delays
- Flair Airlines: 1 delay
- Endeavor Air: 2 delays
- Discover: 1 delay
- PAL Airlines: 2 delays
- Republic: 1 delay
- WestJet: 5 delays
Full List of Affected Airlines
Air Algerie, Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air France, Air India, Air Inuit, Air North Charter, Air Transat, American Airlines, Cargojet, Cathay Pacific, Central Mountain, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Discover, Edelweiss Air AG, Egypt Air, Emirates, Endeavor Air, Envoy Air, EVA Air, Flair Airlines, Horizon, Hong Kong Airlines, Japan Airlines, Jazz, Jet Aviation, Korean Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, PAL Airlines, Pacific Coastal Airlines, Philippine Air Lines, Porter Airlines, PSA Airlines, Republic, Royal Air Maroc, Sata Internacional, SkyWest, Sun Country Airlines, Swiss, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, United, WestJet, and WestJet Encore.
Among domestic airlines, Porter Airlines stood out as one of the hardest hit, particularly at Toronto City Centre and Pearson. Air Canada and WestJet also reported high numbers of delayed flights, with Jazz Aviation experiencing a sharp spike in both delays and cancellations at multiple hubs.
Why It Happened
The culprit behind the chaos was a potent weather system that swept through British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, bringing rain, wind gusts, and unstable conditions. The storm led to poor visibility, slippery runways, and difficult landing conditions, forcing air traffic controllers to reduce runway capacity and slow the pace of departures and arrivals.
Airline crews also faced cascading scheduling issues due to delayed incoming aircraft and rest-time restrictions, which in turn led to more last-minute flight cancellations and extended turnaround times.
What Passengers Need to Know Now
If you’re flying out of or into Canada this week, airlines are urging passengers to check their flight status online before leaving for the airport. Many carriers, including Air Canada and WestJet, have waived change fees for affected travelers and are encouraging rebooking through their mobile apps and websites to ease congestion at airport service counters.
Travelers are also advised to allow extra time for airport security and check-in, particularly at Toronto Pearson and Vancouver, where lines were longest and delays most severe.
Bad weather caused more than 550 flight cancellations and delays at Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Halifax airports on Sunday, disrupting air travel across Canada and impacting major airlines like Porter, Air Canada, WestJet, and Jazz. The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds, and poor visibility, forcing widespread delays and cancellations across domestic and international routes.
More Delays Possible
Weather forecasts suggest additional showers and unstable skies could linger over parts of eastern Canada through midweek. With airline schedules still recovering and aircraft repositioning efforts underway, more delays and adjustments are likely—especially for regional routes and international connections.
Whether you’re flying for business or summer holidays, Canadian travelers are once again reminded that weather remains a powerful wildcard in air travel, even in peak season.
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