Hours of waiting and uncertainty during the busiest travel season of the year.
That’s the result of blizzard conditions sweeping across southern Manitoba, leaving several flights delayed or cancelled.
“So we just kept getting emails and texts: ‘It’s delayed, it’s delayed, it’s delayed.’ Until we are almost up at the counter – boom, it’s cancelled,” said traveller Melissa Thiessen.
“We are tough Manitobans. We know when we get weather like this, things happen. So you gotta come in and stay patient.”
READ: Winnipeg blizzard: Schools closed, trash pickup suspended as storm sweeps through southern Manitoba
Thiessen drove to Winnipeg Richardson International Airport from outside of Steinbach to make it on time for the morning flight. The departure time was long gone at 8 a.m.
“It was an absolute gong show,” she recounted. “There were people upon people. So we’re waiting in line, slowly moving through for about three hours, not knowing what was going on.”
A winter storm system blew across the province on Thursday, forcing school and road closures.
Portions of southern Manitoba received up to 20 centimetres of snow and northerly wind gusts of up to 90 kilometres per hour.
Travel was deemed “dangerous and likely impossible” due to near-zero visibility, and residents were advised to avoid travel and outdoor activities.
Blowing snow and gusty winds tapered off later in the day.
CityNews reached out to the Winnipeg airport authority but did not immediately hear back.
“Some flights have been cancelled or delayed due to weather,” Winnipeg Richardson International Airport wrote on social media. “Check your flight status before coming to the airport. Do not come to YWG if your flight has been cancelled.”
For many travellers, Thursday morning began with a lengthy commute.
“That taxi was two hours late,” said Donald Warkentin. “My flight was to leave at 11 o’clock this morning. And it was cancelled.”
Flight cancellations left some travellers with confusing reservations.
“Finally, they re-booked us,” said Sandra Grevstad. “We were going to Windsor, Ontario. They re-booked us on the flight from Toronto to Windsor tonight, but from Winnipeg to Toronto tomorrow. So that wasn’t going to work.”
Most travellers with international destinations who spoke to CityNews were scheduled to fly from Winnipeg as early as Friday morning.
But other travellers were forced to look for overnight accommodations.
“We are placing ourselves in a hotel,” said out-of-towner Denis Hill. “Another thing is, because of the weather there is no compensation for rooms, no compensation for meals. Which is OK. It happens.”