Icy conditions causes travel delays across Montreal

Winter weather is disrupting travel across the Montreal area as icy conditions lead to delays at the airport and interruptions on public transit.

According to Environment Canada, freezing rain and ice pellets are expected to persist through the day, with 5 to 15 millimetres of ice buildup forecast. Conditions are expected to ease slightly later today as precipitation shifts to a mix of snow and rain.

At Montreal–Trudeau International Airport, delays were piling up as of 8:44 a.m., with 106 flights delayed and 18 cancelled, many due to weather-related conditions.

Several other routes were delayed during take-off or landing in the metropolis.

YUL Montreal-Trudeau told CityNews in a statement:

“Safety is our top priority. As such, specific events, such as heavy snowfall or freezing rain, can cause delays or flight cancellations. That said, our experienced runway and taxiway snow removal teams are on duty and taking care of de-icing. In addition, conditions at other airports can also affect schedules in Montreal, particularly due to crew management or technical constraints. From our most recent numbers, 12 per cent of flights scheduled for today, mainly domestic, had been cancelled by airlines. I encourage you to contact them directly, as they are responsible for managing their flights (delays, cancellations, and customer service).”

“As always, we strongly recommend that travellers check their flight schedule with their carrier before heading to the airport, regardless of weather conditions. We also encourage them to plan their travel carefully and arrive at YUL at least three hours in advance.”

Air Canada is the airline that has cancelled the vast majority of these flights. On Sunday, it warned that disruptions were possible due to the weather.

Commuters were also impacted by an interruption in REM service between Deux-Montagnes and Bois-Franc, forcing passengers to find alternate routes this morning.

The REM says normal service has resumed across the entire network.

Pulsar, the REM’s operator says that the disruptions were caused by ice accumulation on the overhead electrical wires that power the trains.

Travellers are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time as hazardous conditions continue across the region.