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By Victor Kaisar

Inclement Weather

Inclement weather on B.C. coast has Kamloops Airport bracing for potential travel chaos

Dec 24, 2024 | 7:41 AM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Airport is preparing for potential travel chaos this holiday season because of inclement weather on the BC South Coast and Vancouver Island.

Environment Canada says multiple back-to-back systems will bring heavy rain and very strong winds to the area of British Columbia that includes Vancouver and Victoria airports.

“We’ve experienced really good weather conditions up to now but we are watching the coast where they’re supposed to get some bad weather,” YKA Managing Director Ed Ratuski said.

“We do have a lot of flights coming in from Vancouver and Victoria later today.”

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There were nine flights at Kamloops Airport Monday (Dec. 23), seven of which were bound for either Vancouver or Victoria. There are seven flights scheduled Tuesday, with five of those heading towards the coast.

“All of the flights are full, and they have been for the last week, and its good for us towards the end of the year,” Ratuski said. “We just want to make sure that everybody gets home for Christmas on time.”

It was a different scenario in 2022, when weather conditions at Vancouver International Airport led to flight cancellations in Kamloops just ahead of Christmas.

“For every airport, the holiday season is huge as its our last big push towards the end of the year and we want to make sure we can handle the traffic so that the passenger journey is as easy as possible,” Ratuski said.

“We’re doing a good job of that in Kamloops with CATSA and the airline staff.”

While none of the flights to or from Kamloops have been affected yet, Ratuski has a word of advice for people with travel plans this week.

“To really watch their flight schedules especially if they’re coming from the coast because of the inclement weather,” Ratuski said. “Even though its nice here, make sure they’re checking the flight schedules for their connecting flights as well.”

As of publishing, a special weather statement was in effect for the South Coast and Vancouver Island, though Environment Canada said it will issue weather warnings as needed.

You can find the latest flight information from Kamloops Airport here and the latest information on weather warnings and watches from Environment Canada here.

– With files from Michael Reeve