Winter storm impacting flights at Kelowna Airport

KELOWNA – Flights in and out of the Kelowna Airport Sunday are being cancelled or delayed thanks to all the snow from the winter storm making it’s way from the B.C. coast through the Interior.

The snow is expected to taper off by Monday morning.

Flights arriving in Kelowna from Victoria, Vancouver and Seattle have been cancelled, while flights from Edmonton, Calgary and Las Vegas have been delayed.

It’s the same story for departures from YLW with the corresponding return flights to Victoria, Vancouver and Seattle cancelled — departing flights for Calgary and Edmonton have been delayed.

The snow is negatively impacting visibility and the conditions on the runway, according to Jenelle Hynes with the Kelowna Airport.

She says the Alaska Airline flight from Seattle cancelled because of snow on the runway.

“It was still landable for many different kinds of aircraft but conditions didn’t meet this particular flight’s ideal conditions,” Hynes says.

The WestJet Encore flight cancelled due to the expected weather conditions when it was due to land in Kelowna.

Hynes says the runway maintenance staff is going full tilt.

“The guys are going out there and trying to keep ahead of the snow. They are working in between the flights landing and departing, sweeping and plowing.”

The snow is also causing the aircraft to ice up while they are on the ground.

“The de-icing of aircraft is an extra step that goes on all winter long as the temperatures hit that sweet spot,” she says.

Cancelled flights will be rebooked by the respective airline. Passengers need to contact their airline.

Passengers who are flying out Sunday or people who are picking up passengers can check the airport’s website.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.