A powerful Arctic front sweeping across the Prairies and into central Canada has triggered 276 flight delays and 34 cancellations nationwide, according to aviation-tracking data compiled on 21 January 2026 by travel outlet The Traveler. Major hubs in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montréal were among the hardest hit, while smaller northern airports reported runway closures due to blowing snow and wind-chill values below –40 °C.
The disruption began late on 20 January, when Environment and Climate Change Canada issued blizzard warnings from British Columbia’s Interior to the Saint Lawrence Valley. Airlines activated irregular-operations protocols, offering rebooking and hotel vouchers where required. Air Canada and WestJet waived change fees for affected routes, but many passengers struggled to find available seats during peak ski-season traffic.
Business-travel managers are advising employees to verify flight status every few hours and to consider rail or virtual alternatives for intra-Canadian meetings scheduled this week. Companies with time-sensitive cross-border shipments may also feel the pinch: ground handlers report cargo backlogs as belly-hold space remains parked on tarmacs.
![Winter Storms Snarl Air Travel Across Canada, Stranding Thousands of Passengers]()
Amid the uncertainty, travellers worried about overstaying visas or needing last-minute travel documents can turn to VisaHQ for help. The company’s Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers quick online applications, extension guidance, and live customer support, ensuring tourists and business visitors stay compliant even when severe weather disrupts their itineraries.
The storm serves as a reminder that Canada’s extreme-weather contingency planning is now a core component of global-mobility risk management. Experts recommend that travel policies include pre-approved spend limits for hotels, ground transport and flexible fares, as well as clear communication channels for stranded staff. Employers should also track employees’ immigration status—particularly visitors and work-permit holders whose authorised stay could expire if delays are prolonged.
Meteorologists expect conditions to ease gradually by 22 January, but residual delays could cascade through the week. Travellers connecting onward to the United States or Europe should leave additional buffer time for customs and security screening, which often see staffing challenges during operations-control events.
The disruption began late on 20 January, when Environment and Climate Change Canada issued blizzard warnings from British Columbia’s Interior to the Saint Lawrence Valley. Airlines activated irregular-operations protocols, offering rebooking and hotel vouchers where required. Air Canada and WestJet waived change fees for affected routes, but many passengers struggled to find available seats during peak ski-season traffic.
Business-travel managers are advising employees to verify flight status every few hours and to consider rail or virtual alternatives for intra-Canadian meetings scheduled this week. Companies with time-sensitive cross-border shipments may also feel the pinch: ground handlers report cargo backlogs as belly-hold space remains parked on tarmacs.
Amid the uncertainty, travellers worried about overstaying visas or needing last-minute travel documents can turn to VisaHQ for help. The company’s Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers quick online applications, extension guidance, and live customer support, ensuring tourists and business visitors stay compliant even when severe weather disrupts their itineraries.
The storm serves as a reminder that Canada’s extreme-weather contingency planning is now a core component of global-mobility risk management. Experts recommend that travel policies include pre-approved spend limits for hotels, ground transport and flexible fares, as well as clear communication channels for stranded staff. Employers should also track employees’ immigration status—particularly visitors and work-permit holders whose authorised stay could expire if delays are prolonged.
Meteorologists expect conditions to ease gradually by 22 January, but residual delays could cascade through the week. Travellers connecting onward to the United States or Europe should leave additional buffer time for customs and security screening, which often see staffing challenges during operations-control events.
