Grounded U.S. flights cause chaos, confusion at Winnipeg’s airport
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Travellers in Winnipeg were amongst those affected Friday after the Federal Aviation Administration grounded flights across the U.S. due to problems at regional air traffic control centres.
Issued around 4 p.m., the FAA notice said the ground stop was being imposed “due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.”
Shania Clarke, who was set to travel to Vancouver from Winnipeg Friday, said her flight was cancelled.
Morgan Modjeski / Free Press
An information screen at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport shows some flights to U.S cities cancelled or delayed after that country’s Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nation-wide grounding of all flights on Friday.
“I was actually just in the middle of printing my luggage tag and then I got a notification on my phone that my flight was rescheduled,” Clarke said at the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport.
She said after checking the Air Canada mobile app, she was advised the U.S. grounding was behind her cancelled flight.
While she’s able to stay the night with family in Winnipeg — her flight was re-booked to Saturday morning — she feels for all the travellers who have been left stranded.
“When you’re travelling somewhere, you’re either looking forward to getting home or getting to a new place, and having that delay can definitely be frustrating.”
On information boards throughout the airport, many flights to the U.S were listed as cancelled or delayed.
Rosella McLean, 84, was up before dawn to ensure she was ready to go to Orlando, Florida for a vacation, but she too had to re-arrange her travel plans.
“I’ve been preparing for the last week, but today was the day I had to have everything ready,” McLean said. “I’m just so tired right now.”
She said she had made her way both through customs and security before finding out the news.
She said while Delta staff have been helpful, the entire situation has left her exhausted.
“I’m just hoping tomorrow it’s going to be resolved,” she said. “And if it’s not, then I’m going to be really angry.”
Morgan Modjeski / Free Press
Shania Clarke, 30, was set to spend another night in Winnipeg after her flight to Vancouver was cancelled due to a nation-wide grounding in the U.S implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday.
A statement from the Winnipeg Airports Authority said the airport is not “experiencing a significant impact” as a result of the grounding.
“We are working closely with all parties to support the airport’s safe and efficient operations,” said the statement from airport authority communications. “We suggest that passengers check their flight status with their airline before arriving at YWG.”
Cassandra Smith, who was headed home to Vancouver, said she considered herself one of the “lucky ones.”
“What went through my head? Just, ‘Yikes, I just want to get home,’” Smith said when she got notice her flight was cancelled.
She was automatically booked onto a flight tomorrow evening, but was able to find one out of Winnipeg Friday in the end, to her relief.
“Certainly, air traffic regulations are in place for a reason and I completely understand taking precautions,” she said. “It is unfortunate … but at the end of the day it’s just inconvenience.”
morgan.modjeski@winnipegfreepress.mb.ca