Passengers line-up during flight delays at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Tuesday January 7, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim
January 09, 2014 - 5:52 AM
TORONTO - Air Canada is warning passengers to expect more flight cancellations and delays today.
Canada's largest airline says flights to or from the airports in parts of Canada and the United States may be affected by the winter weather.
The alert covers Toronto's Pearson International and Billy Bishop airports, Montreal's Trudeau International Airport and airports in Ottawa, St. John's, N.L. and Halifax.
It also covers U.S. airports in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia and Washington.
Air Canada says passengers should check their flight status online before leaving for the airport and that those booked on affected flights will be able to rebook without penalty, space permitting.
The alert follows weather related problems earlier this week that caused backlogs and delays involving many airlines at Toronto's Pearson Airport.
The delays were a result of extreme cold triggering a ground stop at the Toronto airport on Tuesday, which prevented North American flights from landing for more than eight hours.
The airport instituted the ground stop after Tuesday's wind chill readings hovered around the -40 C mark and more than 600 flights were cancelled during the day.
Airport officials said the ground stop was implemented because of how the cold was affecting equipment and to minimize time outdoors for employees.
Air Canada had advised travellers Wednesday that severe winter conditions in eastern Canada and the U.S. northeast were still impacting its operations.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014