Weather forces cancellation of several Air Canada London flights
Dec 18, 2010, 2:19 pm
#1
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Weather forces cancellation of several Air Canada London flights
MONTREAL, Dec. 18, 2010 - Air Canada advises that due to severe winter storm conditions in England that have temporarily closed London Heathrow airport there will be delays and cancellations of London and other trans-Atlantic flights, as well as an impact on connecting flights within Europe over the next days.
"Air Canada is doing everything it can to ensure that customers arrive safely at their destination and that those whose travel has been disrupted are taken care of. We appreciate that at this time of year travel has special importance so we are taking all measures to maintain our schedule and recover when delays or cancellations are forced upon us by the severe weather, which has resulted in the closure of Heathrow, our largest international destination and key connection point," said Duncan Dee, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Air Canada diverted to Paris three London-bound flights on the morning of Saturday, December 18 and is working to reposition the aircraft as soon as it can safely do so. It has also cancelled most of its London-bound operation for the evening of Saturday, December 18. Further delays and cancellations are expected. Due to heavy holiday passenger loads and slot constraints at London Heathrow, Air Canada has limited ability to immediately protect passengers whose flights are affected. Air Canada asks passengers to postpone non-essential travel and is waiving change and cancellation fees for those who wish to reschedule on affected routes.
Customers with flights to or from affected areas are advised to check on the status of their flight prior to leaving for the airport by consulting the Air Canada website at aircanada.com, or by calling Air Canada's automated flight information system at 1-888-422-7533, or by using a web-enhanced cell phone. In order to facilitate changes to travel plans, Air Canada has revised its ticketing policy for customers booked on flights that are subject to cancellation. Those customers wishing to make alternate travel arrangements can do so without penalty, space permitting, by contacting Air Canada Reservations toll free in Canada and the U.S. at 888-247-2262; TTY: 1-800-361-8071 or Air Canada Reservations worldwide. Due to increased call centre volume, wait times may be longer than usual.
http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/trav_adv/101218.html
"Air Canada is doing everything it can to ensure that customers arrive safely at their destination and that those whose travel has been disrupted are taken care of. We appreciate that at this time of year travel has special importance so we are taking all measures to maintain our schedule and recover when delays or cancellations are forced upon us by the severe weather, which has resulted in the closure of Heathrow, our largest international destination and key connection point," said Duncan Dee, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Air Canada diverted to Paris three London-bound flights on the morning of Saturday, December 18 and is working to reposition the aircraft as soon as it can safely do so. It has also cancelled most of its London-bound operation for the evening of Saturday, December 18. Further delays and cancellations are expected. Due to heavy holiday passenger loads and slot constraints at London Heathrow, Air Canada has limited ability to immediately protect passengers whose flights are affected. Air Canada asks passengers to postpone non-essential travel and is waiving change and cancellation fees for those who wish to reschedule on affected routes.
Customers with flights to or from affected areas are advised to check on the status of their flight prior to leaving for the airport by consulting the Air Canada website at aircanada.com, or by calling Air Canada's automated flight information system at 1-888-422-7533, or by using a web-enhanced cell phone. In order to facilitate changes to travel plans, Air Canada has revised its ticketing policy for customers booked on flights that are subject to cancellation. Those customers wishing to make alternate travel arrangements can do so without penalty, space permitting, by contacting Air Canada Reservations toll free in Canada and the U.S. at 888-247-2262; TTY: 1-800-361-8071 or Air Canada Reservations worldwide. Due to increased call centre volume, wait times may be longer than usual.
http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/trav_adv/101218.html
Dec 18, 2010, 2:32 pm
#2
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Dec 19, 2010, 12:00 am
#8
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.282 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/107)
Exactly! That,s the whole point:
Dec 19, 2010, 4:12 am
#9
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I'm in London now. It was a real mess yesterday, most of the tube was shut down in the afternoon. One benefit is that the crowds are lighter than usual for this time of year. Except at Heathrow where 'thousands slept on the floor overnight' according to the news.
Hopefully our flight home goes as planned tomorrow - no incoming flights today and AC has cancelled 7 lhr-yyz so far. That's a lot of people to catch up.
Hopefully our flight home goes as planned tomorrow - no incoming flights today and AC has cancelled 7 lhr-yyz so far. That's a lot of people to catch up.
Dec 19, 2010, 5:27 am
#10
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I'm in London now. It was a real mess yesterday, most of the tube was shut down in the afternoon. One benefit is that the crowds are lighter than usual for this time of year. Except at Heathrow where 'thousands slept on the floor overnight' according to the news.
Hopefully our flight home goes as planned tomorrow - no incoming flights today and AC has cancelled 7 lhr-yyz so far. That's a lot of people to catch up.
Hopefully our flight home goes as planned tomorrow - no incoming flights today and AC has cancelled 7 lhr-yyz so far. That's a lot of people to catch up.
Dec 19, 2010, 5:30 am
#11
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Mrs. lynchpin_yyz, her brother and mother are currently stuck. Luckily they had a hotel by the airport as they were taking an early flight today... well except for Mum who's already been bumped from the 18th to the 23rd! Now listening to all the benefits of the OnePass program with Continental, even though their plane landed last night (according to Continental) Mrs. and bro won't be flying back today.
Not a happy scene for a lot of people.
Not a happy scene for a lot of people.
Dec 19, 2010, 5:48 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Not getting better.
I'm hearing there will be no landings at LHR today (Sunday), and few departures. If AC didn't already have equipment on the ground I'd say its time to head to King's Cross and take the eurostar to CDG. If you can't get a seat out of CDG, GVA is another 3 hours and they just put the newer Lyria TGV trains on the route. Everything's fine here so far.
Good luck all. I've had my share of these closings the past few weeks. Luckily was nestled in at home this time around.
Good luck all. I've had my share of these closings the past few weeks. Luckily was nestled in at home this time around.
Dec 19, 2010, 6:07 am
#13
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Dec 19, 2010, 8:53 am
#14
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Heathrow Closure Forces Cancellation Of Additional Air Canada flights
Heathrow Closure Forces Cancellation Of Additional Air Canada flights
MONTREAL, Dec. 19, 2010 - Air Canada advises that due to continuing severe winter storm conditions in England and elsewhere in Europe there will be delays and cancellations of London and Paris flights, as well as an impact on connecting flights within Europe, for at least another 48 hours.
"Air Canada deeply regrets the inconvenience caused by the cancellation of our Heathrow flights by circumstances outside of our control. Unfortunately, we do not anticipate resuming normal services at Heathrow for at least 48 hours. Furthermore, due to the tremendous backlog caused by the closure of Heathrow over the past two days, our ability to provide seats to customers of already cancelled flights will be severely limited by already full flights during the Christmas holiday peak and the scarcity of available slots at Heathrow airport. We are watching the situation closely and preparing to resume operations once conditions permit in order to get customers to their destinations safely," said Duncan Dee, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.
Due to weather restrictions at London Heathrow, Air Canada cancelled all of its departures from London to Canada for the morning of Sunday, December 19, and as a result a number of flights yet to be determined from Canada to London for the evening of Sunday, December 19 have also been cancelled because aircraft availability. The severe winter weather is also affecting other European stations, notably Paris, where airport conditions are imposing lengthy delays or cancellations on carriers. Due to heavy holiday passenger loads and slot constraints at Heathrow, Air Canada has limited ability to immediately protect passengers whose flights are affected. Air Canada asks passengers to postpone non-essential travel and is waiving change and cancellation fees for those who wish to reschedule on affected routes.
Customers with flights to or from affected areas are advised to check on the status of their flight prior to leaving for the airport by consulting the Air Canada website at aircanada.com, or by calling Air Canada's automated flight information system at 1-888-422-7533, or by using a web-enhanced cell phone.
In order to facilitate changes to travel plans, Air Canada has revised its ticketing policy for customers booked on flights that are subject to cancellation. Those customers wishing to make alternate travel arrangements can do so without penalty, space permitting, by contacting Air Canada Reservations toll free in Canada and the U.S. at 888-247-2262; TTY: 1-800-361-8071 or Air Canada Reservations worldwide. Due to increased call centre volume, wait times are longer than usual. Customers inquiring about travel to or from London are asked NOT to call the call centre but should instead use www.aircanada.com
MONTREAL, Dec. 19, 2010 - Air Canada advises that due to continuing severe winter storm conditions in England and elsewhere in Europe there will be delays and cancellations of London and Paris flights, as well as an impact on connecting flights within Europe, for at least another 48 hours.
"Air Canada deeply regrets the inconvenience caused by the cancellation of our Heathrow flights by circumstances outside of our control. Unfortunately, we do not anticipate resuming normal services at Heathrow for at least 48 hours. Furthermore, due to the tremendous backlog caused by the closure of Heathrow over the past two days, our ability to provide seats to customers of already cancelled flights will be severely limited by already full flights during the Christmas holiday peak and the scarcity of available slots at Heathrow airport. We are watching the situation closely and preparing to resume operations once conditions permit in order to get customers to their destinations safely," said Duncan Dee, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.
Due to weather restrictions at London Heathrow, Air Canada cancelled all of its departures from London to Canada for the morning of Sunday, December 19, and as a result a number of flights yet to be determined from Canada to London for the evening of Sunday, December 19 have also been cancelled because aircraft availability. The severe winter weather is also affecting other European stations, notably Paris, where airport conditions are imposing lengthy delays or cancellations on carriers. Due to heavy holiday passenger loads and slot constraints at Heathrow, Air Canada has limited ability to immediately protect passengers whose flights are affected. Air Canada asks passengers to postpone non-essential travel and is waiving change and cancellation fees for those who wish to reschedule on affected routes.
Customers with flights to or from affected areas are advised to check on the status of their flight prior to leaving for the airport by consulting the Air Canada website at aircanada.com, or by calling Air Canada's automated flight information system at 1-888-422-7533, or by using a web-enhanced cell phone.
In order to facilitate changes to travel plans, Air Canada has revised its ticketing policy for customers booked on flights that are subject to cancellation. Those customers wishing to make alternate travel arrangements can do so without penalty, space permitting, by contacting Air Canada Reservations toll free in Canada and the U.S. at 888-247-2262; TTY: 1-800-361-8071 or Air Canada Reservations worldwide. Due to increased call centre volume, wait times are longer than usual. Customers inquiring about travel to or from London are asked NOT to call the call centre but should instead use www.aircanada.com
Dec 19, 2010, 8:56 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PHL, NYC, DC
Posts: 9,708
I'm hearing there will be no landings at LHR today (Sunday), and few departures. If AC didn't already have equipment on the ground I'd say its time to head to King's Cross and take the eurostar to CDG. If you can't get a seat out of CDG, GVA is another 3 hours and they just put the newer Lyria TGV trains on the route. Everything's fine here so far.
Good luck all. I've had my share of these closings the past few weeks. Luckily was nestled in at home this time around.
Good luck all. I've had my share of these closings the past few weeks. Luckily was nestled in at home this time around.