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Dense fog wreaks havoc with Island flight schedules

Passengers should be checking their flights for delays as conditions could continue
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A KD Air plane on the tarmac at Qualicum Beach Airport Friday, Dec. 8. Multiple flights out of Qualicum Beach were cancelled Dec. 7 and 8 due to a fog advisory. — Lauren Collins photo

With a fog advisory in effect for east Vancouver Island from Duncan to Campbell River, multiple flights have been cancelled to and from the Island.

The fog advisory was issued by Environment Canada Friday, Dec. 8 at 5:12 a.m. The advisory states there is “near zero visibility” in the fog. It goes on to say the fog will likely persist through the afternoon and then become patchy Saturday afternoon.

The weather has forced the cancellation of multiple flights to and from the Nanaimo Airport.

A total of four flights have been cancelled at the airport. Four Air Canada flights – two from Vancouver and two bound for Vancouver – were cancelled this morning because of the foggy weather. An inbound Air Canada flight from Calgary has beendiverted to another airport according to Flightradar24, an live airplane tracking website.

Mike Hooper, Nanaimo airport president and CEO, confirmed that there were cancellations at the airport today because offoggy weather, adding that airports up and down Vancouver Island are experiencing the same thing.

“There have been cancellations,” he said. “Passengers should work with their air carrier and the air carrier will keep you posted with any delays.”

The airport has experienced flight cancellations throughout the week as a result of the foggy weather. Hooper saidpassengers can check their flight’s live status by visiting the airport’s website.

“The air carriers update it,” he said. “It’s live and it will tell you whether that particular flight that you’re concerned about is delayed or cancelled.”

Flights have also been cancelled out of Victoria International Airport.

Ken Gallant, director of operations at Victoria Airport Authority, said there were five cancellations coming out of Victoria andtwo cancellations coming into Victoria because of the fog. Gallant said most of the flights were Calgary- and Edmonton-bound flights. There were also several delays.

Gallant said the fog was expected to dissipate after lunchtime.

Meanwhile, in the Comox Valley, flights to and from YQQ airport have been cancelled since Wednesday due to the fog. Initially, someflights were being re-routed to Campbell River with passengers being bussed down to the Valley.

As of noon Friday, Air Canada has cancelled all of its flights departing from YQQ, and Westjet has cancelled all of its morningdepartures and arrivals from Calgary to the airport.

In Qualicum Beach, the first flight since Wednesday, Dec. 6 left Friday, Dec. 8 at 10:30 a.m.

Both KD Air and Orca Airways fly in and out of Qualicum Beach Airport.

A worker with KD Air said no flights left or came in to Qualicum Beach Airport on Thursday, Dec. 7, and as of 11 a.m. Fridaymorning no KD Air flights had left the airport.

Orca Airways had its first flight since Wednesday (Dec. 6) leave Qualicum Beach Airport Friday. The flight was at 10:30 a.m.Friday, but Orca Airways isn’t sure any other flights will be leaving or coming into Qualicum Beach Airport.

To stay up to date about flights coming in or leaving Qualicum Beach Airport, visit www.kdair.com orwww.flyorcaair.com/flightstatus.php.

Nicholas Pescod’s tweet



Lauren Collins

About the Author: Lauren Collins

I'm a provincial reporter for Black Press Media's national team, after my journalism career took me across B.C. since I was 19 years old.
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