Flight delays persist at Halifax airport as winter storm lingers

Poor weather conditions backed up flights in Halifax on Tuesday.

A long-lasting winter storm forced runways at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport to close for almost four hours Tuesday morning.

The decision was made to double the amount of winter operations staff in an attempt to clear the landing strips.

“That’s what the crew are actually batting today, is that drifting, blowing snow that’s already on the airfield,” says Tiffany Chase, spokesperson for the Halifax airport.

That delay added to Monday’s standstill when the majority of the 120 scheduled arrivals and departures were disrupted.

“Yesterday we had about two-thirds of the total scheduled flights that were scheduled to operate were cancelled,” Chase says. “Today we’re looking at just about a quarter.”

Tuesday’s flights resumed just before noon. Chicago resident Michelle Therrien is one passenger, however, who wasn’t complaining about the delay.

“I actually left my suitcase at home with my passport, so this gives time for someone to rush my passport over, so I’m not that upset.”

On top of worrying about getting her passport in time for her flight, Therrien has her 17-year-old cat with her.

“It’s difficult. Mostly I worry about it being stressful for him. I wouldn’t mind the delay myself, but he’s anxious and confused, but he’s a frequent flyer for a cat,” she says.

Jennifer Amos is waiting for a flight too.

“My travel plans were to head home on the weekend.”

She had to rebook because of the storm. Now she’s waiting for her plane to come in from Toronto, where Pearson International is still recovering from a record 46-centimetre snowfall.

“I booked the day off work just to be available for travel, but if I don’t get back, it will impact me tomorrow,” says Amos.

Amos is confident she’ll get out Tuesday, but with significant impacts to several North American airports, officials in Halifax say it could still be a couple days before flight schedules are back to normal for others hoping to board their flights.

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