Kelowna International Airport Being Impacted By Wildfires

Republished By Plato

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WestJet update:

Status of operations – as of Friday, August 18 at 3:05 p.m. MTTo aid evacuation efforts, WestJet has added an extra recovery flight scheduled for August 18, 2023, between Penticton and Calgary:

WS4722 YVR-YYF
WS4723 YYF-YVR

Status of operations – as of Friday, August 18 at 2:30 p.m. MTOut of an abundance of caution for the safety of our guests and crews, we have proactively cancelled all flights on Friday, August 18, 2023 to and from Kelowna. We are working to notify all impacted guests and encourage them to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.Status of operations – as of Friday, August 18 at 1:00 p.m. MTTo aid evacuation efforts, WestJet has added an extra recovery flight scheduled for August 18, 2023, between Penticton and Calgary:

WS4720 YYC-YYF
WS4721 YYF-YYC

Due to the close proximity of the wildfires to Kelowna International Airport, operations to and from the airport are not permitted at this time. As a result, we have proactively cancelled the following additional flights to and from Kelowna today, Friday, August 18:Impacted flights:

WS3125 YEG-YLW
WS3126 YLW-YEG

Status of operations – as of Friday, August 18 at 11:45 a.m. MTIn response to the Kelowna wildfires, a travel advisory has been posted on WestJet.com and flexible change/cancel guidelines have been announced for all guests travelling to Kelowna between August 18 and 24, 2023. To ensure guests evacuating are able to do so affordably, WestJet has proactively adjusted fares to avoid price escalation for all flights serving Kelowna (YLW), Kamloops (YKA) and Penticton (YYF). Due to the close proximity of the wildfires to Kelowna International Airport, operations to and from the airport are not permitted at this time. As a result, we have proactively cancelled the following flights to and from Kelowna today, Friday, August 18:Impacted flights:

WS3119 YLW-YYJ
WS3260 YYJ-YLW
WS3155 YYC-YLW
WS3346 YLW-YYC
WS280 YLW-YYC
WS3309 YLW-YVR
WS3160 YLW-YYC
WS3320 YVR-YLW
WS3325 YLW-YVR
WS3399 YEG-YLW
WS3162 YLW-YYC
WS3312 YLW-YEG
WS187 YYC-YLW
WS188 YLW-YYC
WS348 YVR-YLW
WS349 YLW-YVR
WS3343 YYC-YLW
WS3344 YLW-YYC
WS3323 YLW-YVR
WS3163 YYC-YLW

We are working to notify all impacted guests and encourage them to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.We continue to monitor the situation closely and will make operational changes in the name of safety as necessary. All guests currently in the region are advised to follow all response instructions provided by local authorities.

From YLW:

August 18, 2023

The airspace surrounding Kelowna International Airport had been closed to allow aerial fire-fighting activity for the wildfires in the Kelowna area. The priority is the safety of our community and to allow access to the airspace required by aerial firefighters. YLW will continue to work with our industry stakeholders, BC Wildfire Service, NavCanada and Transport Canada, to understand how these wildfires will impact operations at YLW. Updates will be provided at ylw.kelowna.ca/updates.

Meanwhile Kellowknife is being impacted:

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/yellowknife-residents-abandon-town-and-canada-fires-spark-new-evacuations/ar-AA1fszz1