Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Silvia Senna

HOLIDAY TRAVELS

Airports are full and roads are busy — with visitors still hoping for a white Christmas

Dec 22, 2023 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — It might not look like Christmas outside, but inside — the Kamloops Airport is buzzing with travellers coming and going for the holidays.

“The flights are full and WestJet and Pacific Coast have both added flights to accommodate the increased number of travellers. Between the two of them, we have four extra flights coming in over the holidays,” explained Jim Moroz, the facilities manager at the Kamloops Airport.

Mild temperatures mean less chance of delays.

“Winter has been cooperating when it comes to the flights. We don’t expect any delays. We do expect full flights, but the weather being cooperative is helpful for getting people in and out,” said Moroz.

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For those flying in and out of town, Moroz has one piece of advice when it comes to packing your Christmas presents.

“When you’re travelling with presents, I think the thing to remember is keep them unwrapped and in your carry on, if possible. CBSA may have to go through them and wreck your nice wrapping. If you’re travelling with your presents, keep them in your carry on and keep them unwrapped.”

The mild weather could lead to more people driving to their destination. However, caution on the highways is still recommended.

“One thing that’s important to remember is that just because we’ve been warmer than normal here in the valley bottoms, that doesn’t necessarily mean that there isn’t winter conditions across the highway passes,” said Alyssa Charbonneau, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.

Those just arriving from out of the country hoping to see a typical Kamloops Christmas could be disappointed.

“We are here to have a white Christmas in Kamloops,” said a tourist coming from Australia.

“We want snow. But we don’t think there’s any yet,” agreed Sally, also visiting from Australia.

Environment Canada does say the weather is unusual for this time of year.

“We have definitely been seeing warmer-than-normal conditions through December. We’ll have to wait to the end of the month to see how it all tabulates and whether we’re looking at a month that really ranks in the top months of warmest Decembers on record. But it has been an unusually warm period for this time of year,” said Charbonneau.

But visitors can still hope for a Christmas miracle.

“It’s not Christmas until Monday. We still have our fingers crossed,” said Sally.