Flights delayed, cancelled and diverted due to snowstorm at Pearson Airport in Mississauga, Ontario
Published January 13, 2024 at 9:41 am
Dozens of flights were delayed, cancelled and diverted last night at Pearson Airport in Mississauga as the biggest snowstorm to hit the area this winter took its toll on both air and road travel.
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And while the worst of the winter blast seems to have passed, Pearson officials are still urging travellers to check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport.
They say some Saturday flights could be delayed or cancelled. (Information from later on Saturday indicated that some 180 or so flights had been impacted as of Saturday afternoon).
“Overnight, roughly 5 cm of snow blanketed Pearson Airport, and Mother Nature even treated us to some thunder and lightning,” airport officials said via social media Saturday morning. “While our snow-clearing machines fully cleared the tarmac, our de-icing crews prepared 107 planes for takeoff. High winds and low visibility led to a departure on-time performance of 40 per cent and arrivals were at 42 per cent — both were lower than usual, but to be expected in these circumstances. To manage capacity, a small number of flights were also diverted to other airports. As operations gradually return to normal, some light rain and continued strong winds mean we may still experience flight delays and cancellations.”
De-icing crews at Pearson Airport prepare an aircraft for its flight. (Photo: Pearson Airport)
Meanwhile, Peel Regional Police are urging drivers to be careful in the wake of the storm, whether they’re heading to or from the airport or anywhere else.
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“Please be reminded that the snowstorm continues and we just ask that you limit your driving as much as possible to avoid any unnecessary situations,” police said on social media Saturday morning. “If you absolutely have to go out, be sure to keep a good following distance and an appropriate speed.”
Officials at Pearson Airport posted a number of weather/travel updates to social media throughout the day and evening on Friday in advance of the winter storm and as it unfolded.
Before arriving in southern Ontario, the storm caused major travel problems in the U.S. Midwest early Friday.
Officials at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago (see photo below) said via social media Friday morning that airlines there “proactively cancelled more than 650 flights” due to the storm system.
Snow-clearing vehicles work on the runways at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. (Photo: O’Hare Airport X)
Pearson officials say they’re ready for any weather that arrives this winter as their crews are equipped with the latest machines with which to clear snow and ice from runways.
They said at the outset of winter that they’re more than ready to clear the runways of heavy snow when it comes. More than 100 snow plows, tractors, trucks and other pieces of equipment are lined up to complete the task, they noted.
By the numbers, the airport lists the following among its specialized snow removal vehicles and equipment:
- 40 snow plows
- 18 snow tractors
- 15 wheel loaders
- 14 de-icing trucks
- 12 snow blowers
- 7 front-mounted sweepers