Vancouver airport books hotel rooms for stranded passengers amid winter storm

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has booked over 400 hotel rooms for stranded passengers amid the winter storm.

YVR’s President and CEO, Tamara Vrooman says while the airport is fully operational, passengers with cancelled flights caused by this week’s snowstorm, would take some time to book.

“As you can imagine, no matter what the airline, international, domestic, small, big, or in between, this is a really busy time for airlines and so their schedules are pretty full. Finding enough space to rebook takes some time. That has resulted in passengers spending sometimes two or three nights at our airport.”

Vrooman says the rooms are particularly for families with children, elderly people, and passengers who are from out of town. She says while there’s no exact number, there are probably a few hundred people stranded at the airport, and that  securing over 400 rooms will hopefully cover those in need of a place to stay, especially as Christmas nears.

“It’s not like these folks have a place to go. Many of them were transiting through our airport to other destinations. Those folks are the ones that were particularly thinking about at this time. And so while they’re not able to make their final destination, at least they can connect with friends and family virtually probably FaceTime from the comfort of a hotel room,” Vrooman says.

Vrooman says airlines preemptively canceled flights which helped made Friday’s operations smoother. The airlines warned passengers of potential delays due to the South Coast’s winter storm.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) says it is “operational” Friday, noting flights are arriving and departing. Vrooman says the airport reduced its flights by 50 per cent as the Metro Vancouver region is once again hit with a severe winter storm, just days after the area was blanketed in snow, bringing operations at the airport to a grinding halt.

Just before 12 p.m., YVR said it had de-iced 39 flights over the span of about 12 hours, allowing them to fly safely.

“Staff & volunteers continue to help passengers by providing information, food, water blankets, hand warmers & any other possible comfort. We sincerely thank everyone for their continued patience & understanding as we work to get passengers on their way safely this holiday season,” YVR’s operational update reads.

YVR UPDATE (11:53 AM) YVR continues to be operational today & we are still seeing flights arrive & depart. Passengers expecting to travel today in the severe winter weather should plan ahead and anticipate potential flight impacts due to snow, ice pellets & freezing rain.

— YVR (@yvrairport) December 23, 2022

YVR says some flights to the U.S. departed Friday morning, adding a number of international flights that were “affected by the international arrivals restrictions” were preparing to head out.

The restrictions applied to several international carriers and were brought in to give YVR an opportunity to catch up from the previous storm. Those restrictions lifted Friday morning.

WestJet announced Thursday that it was proactively cancelling all flights into and out of YVR until Friday afternoon, “pending weather conditions.”

Meanwhile, Air Canada warned its customers of potential disruptions, saying “flights may be impacted by forecasted snow” Friday. As such, it announced a revision to its ticketing policy.

YVR says it’s working with airlines “to safely re-start their operations to get passengers on their way amid additional winter weather conditions.”

---

Related articles: 

• Vancouver’s airport prepares for another winter storm

• WestJet cancels Vancouver, Toronto flights Friday; Air Canada warns of disruptions

• B.C. family struggling to get home due to Vancouver snowstorm

---

Travellers are being encouraged to check their flight status with their airline before leaving for the airport. They are also being asked to give themselves extra time getting to and from terminals due to road conditions throughout Metro Vancouver. Travellers are also encouraged to check the weather in their destinations as parts of the U.S. and Canada’s eastern region are also experiencing severe weather conditions.

-With files from James Paracy