Toronto Pearson International Airport is grappling with a fresh wave of disruption as 62 flight cancellations and 232 delays wreak havoc on schedules for travelers bound across Canada, the United States, and Europe. The latest operational turmoil, unfolding on February 9, 2026, is being attributed largely to intense winter weather and lingering operational pressures following a series of storms and cold snaps that have plagued the region in recent weeks. Major carriers including Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter Airlines are among the most affected, leaving thousands of passengers facing missed connections, overnight stays, and rapidly changing itineraries.
Severe Weather Pushes Canada’s Busiest Airport to the Brink
The situation at Toronto Pearson on February 9 follows a pattern of meteorological extremes that have battered southern Ontario and parts of Quebec since late January. A persistent cold front has kept temperatures low and wind chills dangerous, with conditions dipping near or below minus 30 degrees Celsius at times. These temperatures create a perfect storm for air travel disruption, complicating everything from de icing operations to basic ramp work.
While snowfall totals today are not matching the record breaking 46 centimeters that fell during a major winter storm in late January, the compounded effect of recurring snow events, gusty winds, and freezing conditions has left Pearson operating in a fragile state. Each new band of snow or burst of cold slows the system down further, placing strain on crews, equipment, and airline schedules already stretched by earlier disruptions.
Airport authorities have stressed that safety remains the primary concern. De icing queues are longer than usual, taxiways and runways require continual clearing, and ramp staff must work in rotations to avoid prolonged exposure to extreme cold. All of these precautions, while necessary, reduce the airport’s capacity and increase the likelihood of cascading delays.
Airlines Bear the Brunt as Cancellations and Delays Mount
Among the hardest hit carriers in this latest wave of disruption are Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter Airlines, which collectively operate a large share of Pearson’s domestic and transborder flights. With 62 flights canceled and 232 delayed, the knock-on effects are being felt across a network that connects Toronto to hubs such as Montreal, Ottawa, New York, Chicago, and key European gateways.
Air Canada, Pearson’s largest tenant, is shouldering a significant proportion of the delays and cancellations. Operational data from earlier episodes this season show that more than a third of its schedule at times has been delayed during major storms, and that pattern is being echoed again as temperatures drop and runway conditions fluctuate. International services to Europe, including London, and key U.S. markets are facing extended ground times, equipment substitutions, and in some cases, outright cancellations.
WestJet and Porter, which maintain important links to regional and cross border destinations, are also struggling to keep operations running smoothly. WestJet has in recent months contended with both weather challenges and technical issues on its network, and the current environment of unpredictable storms is compounding those vulnerabilities. Porter, with its concentration of flights between Toronto and eastern Canadian and U.S. cities, is likewise dealing with delays that ripple across multiple short haul sectors in a single day.
North American and Transatlantic Routes Feeling the Strain
The impact of the disruptions at Pearson extends far beyond the Greater Toronto Area. With so many Canadians and international travelers using Toronto as a connecting hub, delays and cancellations are creating ripple effects across North America and into Europe. Flights to New York area airports, Chicago, and major Canadian cities such as Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton, and Halifax have been particularly unstable following repeated storms and intense cold episodes.
Conditions south of the border have also been volatile. Earlier this winter, a severe storm system across the United States led to thousands of cancellations, and Pearson’s current difficulties are in part a continuation of that fragile recovery. When aircraft and crews are stranded at outstations because of weather issues, it becomes harder for airlines to rebuild tight schedules at their Canadian hubs, especially during peak travel days.
Transatlantic services are not immune. Disrupted departures from Toronto lead to late arrivals into European cities, which then complicate return journeys and crew rotations. In one recent case, an Air Canada flight bound for London Heathrow experienced both weather and operational complications, including a diversion, leaving passengers facing long tarmac delays and an eventual return to Toronto. Incidents like this amplify the sense of uncertainty for travelers already weary from winter’s repeated blows to the schedule.
Cold, Wind and Snow: Why Winter Conditions Cripple Operations
To many passengers, a delayed or canceled flight can appear to be a simple scheduling failure, but at the operational level, winter weather introduces a complex chain of safety and logistical challenges. At Toronto Pearson, a combination of frigid temperatures, biting wind, and intermittent snowfall has turned routine ground handling into a slow and delicate operation.
De icing is one of the most visible bottlenecks. Aircraft cannot safely depart when wings or control surfaces are contaminated with ice or heavy snow. In extreme cold, the effectiveness of de icing fluid can be reduced, and the allowable time between de icing and takeoff, known as the holdover time, can shrink. When taxi queues grow too long or runway capacity is constrained, aircraft may require repeat de icing, further slowing the entire departure stream.
Ground crews are also working in hazardous conditions. Wind chills near minus 30 degrees, and in some areas even lower, pose real risks of frostbite and hypothermia. As a result, staff must rotate frequently, take breaks to warm up, and adhere to strict safety protocols. Essential tasks such as loading baggage, connecting jet bridges, and refueling all take longer, especially when visibility is reduced and equipment must operate cautiously on slick surfaces.
Passengers Left Waiting, Rebooking and Rerouting
For travelers caught up in the latest turmoil at Toronto Pearson, today is another test of patience at an airport that has seen repeated bouts of disruption across recent winters. Long lines at check in counters, backed up security lanes, and packed departure halls have become familiar sights when storms hit, and this latest episode is no exception.
Many passengers are attempting to rebook on later flights or reroute through alternate hubs such as Montreal, Calgary, or U.S. airports. However, as aircraft and crew availability tightens and airports across the region face their own weather challenges, options can quickly dwindle. Same day rebooking is not always possible, particularly on heavily traveled routes to sunny southern destinations or major European cities where winter demand is strong.
Travelers are being advised to monitor their flight status closely, use airline apps where possible, and stay in regular contact with carriers for rebooking options. Some airlines are waiving change fees or allowing no cost rebooking windows for affected dates, especially when disruptions are clearly weather related. Nonetheless, finding available seats on alternative flights can be a challenge, particularly for families or larger groups traveling together.
Across Canada: A Season of Extreme Disruption
The difficulties at Pearson are part of a wider national picture. Since January, repeated storms and bouts of extreme cold have triggered substantial disruption at major Canadian airports, including Montreal Trudeau, Ottawa, Halifax, Edmonton, and others. On some days, more than 20 percent of arrivals and departures at key hubs have been canceled, with additional flights delayed, as airports and airlines work to cope with snow clogged runways, low visibility, and powerful winds.
In late January, a significant winter storm brought record breaking snowfall to Toronto and southern Ontario. Pearson recorded its highest single day snowfall on record, forcing hundreds of cancellations and leaving massive snow piles to be cleared from runways and taxiways. Similar scenes played out in Montreal and Ottawa, where airlines scrubbed flights by the hundreds over a forty eight hour period, disrupting travel plans for tens of thousands of passengers.
These repeated disruptions strain every part of the aviation system. Aircraft may be out of position for days, crews can run into duty time limits, and maintenance schedules become more difficult to maintain. For airlines still working to stabilize operations and rebuild capacity after recent years of volatility in global travel, winter 2025 2026 has been an especially stern test.
How Toronto Pearson and Airlines Are Responding
Airport authorities at Toronto Pearson have been keen to stress their preparations and response measures in the face of this challenging season. Crews are working with large fleets of snowplows, sweepers, and specialized vehicles to keep more than five million square meters of airfield surfaces clear. Continuous snowplow rotations, strategic use of snow melters near gates, and close coordination with air traffic control are central to keeping at least part of the runway system operational during heavy snowfall.
Airlines, meanwhile, are using a mix of schedule thinning, pre emptive cancellations, and recovery flights to manage the disruption. In some cases, carriers cancel a portion of the day’s schedule in advance when severe weather is forecast, giving passengers more warning and allowing for more orderly rebooking. When conditions begin to improve, extra sections or larger aircraft may be deployed on popular routes to help clear backlogs of stranded travelers.
Despite these efforts, winter weather remains a powerful disruptor, and both the airport and carriers have acknowledged that passengers will continue to feel the impact when storms line up in quick succession. Operational fixes can mitigate disruptions but cannot eliminate them when visibility drops, runways become slick, and crew safety is on the line.
What Travelers Should Expect in the Days Ahead
For those planning to pass through Toronto Pearson in the coming days, the current pattern of volatility suggests that flexibility and preparation will be crucial. While today’s tally of 62 cancellations and 232 delays may fluctuate as conditions evolve, the broader weather picture for southern Ontario still points to intermittent snow and below seasonal temperatures, which can quickly translate into renewed schedule challenges.
Passengers are being urged to build extra time into their journeys, travel with carry on baggage when possible to simplify rebooking, and ensure they have digital access to airline communications and boarding passes. Travel insurance with trip interruption coverage can also help offset some of the costs associated with overnight stays, missed connections, or last minute itinerary changes triggered by weather events.
For now, Toronto Pearson’s latest bout of disruption is a vivid reminder of the vulnerabilities of modern air travel to the forces of nature. With climate patterns delivering more frequent and intense storms in many parts of the world, major hubs like Pearson will likely face similar tests in winters to come. For travelers, the experience underscores the importance of staying informed, prepared, and ready to adapt when the forecast turns against them.