WestJet has activated travel advisories and one-time fee waivers for flights through St. John’s, Winnipeg, Halifax, Ottawa, Montréal-Trudeau and Québec City between January 10 and 12 after freezing rain and high winds disrupted operations. (visahq.com)
The waiver permits travellers to rebook within 60 days of their original itinerary without change or cancellation fees. Corporate travel managers say the policy is critical at the start of Q1, when many firms hold in-person kickoff meetings. According to American Express Global Business Travel, 37 % of Canadian corporate itineraries touching Atlantic hubs were modified in the past 48 hours.
While severe winter weather is routine, the clustering of six airports across four provinces magnified the impact. Inbound connections from Europe were particularly vulnerable because of tight layovers needed to clear customs before onward domestic flights.
![WestJet Issues Winter-Storm Fee Waivers for Six Canadian Airports]()
For travellers whose rerouted journeys now require unexpected connections or extended layovers abroad, VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) can fast-track any last-minute visa or eTA needs, helping Canadians stay compliant with entry rules even as their plans shift. The service’s real-time alerts and corporate dashboards give travel managers an extra layer of confidence when juggling multiple itinerary changes.
WestJet is also coordinating with airport authorities to add de-icing crews and position spare aircraft in Toronto and Calgary. Travellers who booked via third-party platforms must contact those channels directly, and basic-economy tickets remain subject to any fare difference at rebooking. Travel-insurance providers remind passengers that ancillary costs such as hotel nights and meals may still require receipts for reimbursement.
The incident underscores the importance of flexible ticketing rules as Canadian carriers compete with Air Canada, Porter and foreign airlines for lucrative business-traveller loyalty.
The waiver permits travellers to rebook within 60 days of their original itinerary without change or cancellation fees. Corporate travel managers say the policy is critical at the start of Q1, when many firms hold in-person kickoff meetings. According to American Express Global Business Travel, 37 % of Canadian corporate itineraries touching Atlantic hubs were modified in the past 48 hours.
While severe winter weather is routine, the clustering of six airports across four provinces magnified the impact. Inbound connections from Europe were particularly vulnerable because of tight layovers needed to clear customs before onward domestic flights.
For travellers whose rerouted journeys now require unexpected connections or extended layovers abroad, VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) can fast-track any last-minute visa or eTA needs, helping Canadians stay compliant with entry rules even as their plans shift. The service’s real-time alerts and corporate dashboards give travel managers an extra layer of confidence when juggling multiple itinerary changes.
WestJet is also coordinating with airport authorities to add de-icing crews and position spare aircraft in Toronto and Calgary. Travellers who booked via third-party platforms must contact those channels directly, and basic-economy tickets remain subject to any fare difference at rebooking. Travel-insurance providers remind passengers that ancillary costs such as hotel nights and meals may still require receipts for reimbursement.
The incident underscores the importance of flexible ticketing rules as Canadian carriers compete with Air Canada, Porter and foreign airlines for lucrative business-traveller loyalty.
