Winter storm triggers cancellations at Toronto Pearson; airlines offer fee-free rebooking

Snow and freezing rain on 18 February disrupted flights in Southern Ontario. By 07:00 EST, over 15% of departures and arrivals at Toronto Pearson were canceled, with impacts also at Toronto’s Billy Bishop, Ottawa, and Halifax. Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter introduced flexible, no-fee rebooking. De-icing capacity reductions added to delays, and travelers were advised to arrive early and monitor airline alerts. Forecasts pointed to intermittent freezing rain through 20 February, with potential for further issues.

A winter system of snow and freezing rain moved across Southern Ontario on 18 February, disrupting air travel at multiple airports. At Toronto Pearson, the region’s busiest airport, data showed that by 07:00 EST more than 15% of both departures and arrivals had been canceled. The disruption extended to nearby airports including Billy Bishop in Toronto (YTZ), Ottawa (YOW), and Halifax (YHZ). Reduced capacity at de-icing pads at Toronto Pearson compounded delays.

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority advised travelers to arrive early and closely monitor airline alerts. Freight activity was also affected, with some belly-cargo rerouted to dedicated freighters operating out of Hamilton (YHM) to maintain time-sensitive supply chains.

Airlines responded with flexible policies. Air Canada introduced a change-fee waiver for tickets to, from, or via Toronto Pearson on 18–19 February, allowing rebooking within 10 days without penalties. WestJet and Porter implemented similar no-fee rebooking options, spanning multiple Southern Ontario airports and certain western cities impacted by the storm. Travelers were encouraged to use airline self-service channels to reissue tickets promptly, as seat inventory typically tightens during weather-related disruptions.

Intermittent freezing rain is anticipated through 20 February, suggesting the potential for additional operational impacts. Passengers are advised to check with their airline for the latest updates for their flight.

Key points:
- Confirmed cancellations at Toronto Pearson on 18 February, exceeding 15% of scheduled flights by early morning.
- Impacts also reported at Billy Bishop (YTZ), Ottawa (YOW), and Halifax (YHZ).
- Fee-free rebooking options available from Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter, with specific validity windows and coverage.
- De-icing constraints contributed to delays, and further weather-related disruption was possible through 20 February.
- Travelers should check airline notifications frequently and consider alternate routings where necessary.