Canada Air Travel Hit by Over 40 Cancellations at Major Airports on July 31, 2025
Toronto, ON / Vancouver, BC – July 31, 2025 — Canada’s major airports were thrown into disarray today as widespread flight cancellations and delays rippled across the country. Over 40 flights were cancelled, impacting both domestic and international routes and disrupting thousands of passengers. The affected airports include Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), with global carriers such as Air Canada, Lufthansa, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Qantas among those grounded.
Toronto Pearson Sees Significant Disruption
Toronto Pearson, Canada’s busiest airport, experienced the highest volume of cancellations, particularly on inbound transatlantic routes and key North American hubs. Flights to and from London Heathrow were hit hard, with seven different airlines—including Air Canada (AC855), Lufthansa (LH6588), United (UA8203), and Ethiopian Airlines (ET1140)—cancelling their services.
Other affected routes included Sao Paulo (AC91), Minneapolis (AC8716), Cincinnati (AC8704), Halifax (AC7091), and Los Angeles (AC2192), causing chaos for both international and regional travelers. Delays on flights arriving from Hong Kong (CX820), Dallas-Fort Worth, Calgary, Varadero, and Miami further added to the strain on operations.
Departures also faced setbacks, with flights to Kelowna (AC1911), Chicago (AA4770, IB4242, QF3305), and Seattle (AS973) all delayed. An evening departure to Vancouver (AC127), shared by Aer Lingus, Virgin Australia, and LOT Polish Airlines, was also cancelled, intensifying inter-airport ripple effects.
London Heathrow Connectivity Severely Impacted
A cluster of cancellations from London Heathrow to Toronto highlighted the vulnerability of international routes. British Airways (BA93), Iberia (IB3529), Finnair (AY5993), Aer Lingus (EI8793), American Airlines (AA6918), and SriLankan Airlines (UL2855) were all forced to scrap their scheduled flights. These cancellations point to operational coordination issues or potential weather-related disruptions in Europe.
The domino effect hit Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 passengers hard, with long queues forming at rebooking counters and growing customer dissatisfaction despite airline assurances of compensation and rebooking prioritization.
Vancouver YVR Delays Add to National Disruption
Over on the West Coast, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) experienced several delays late on July 30 into July 31. Notably, both United Airlines (UA1279) and Air Canada (AC5083) faced setbacks on their scheduled flights to Chicago. Flair Airlines’ domestic service to Kitchener-Waterloo (F8840) was also delayed.
These delays exacerbated passenger frustrations, with many reporting missed connections and extended layovers. Transport Canada issued a travel advisory urging passengers to confirm flight statuses prior to arriving at the airport.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Faces Flight Cancellations
Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ), typically known for shorter-haul and regional flights, was not spared from the crisis. Arriving flights from Thunder Bay (PD2636) and New York–Newark (PD2132) were cancelled. Several international arrivals were also affected, including British Airways flights from Basel (BA751), Frankfurt (BA901), and Berlin (BA999), all of which were cancelled from Terminal 5.
Flights operated by Aer Lingus (EI380 from Shannon), Delta (DL050 from Salt Lake City), and Air Canada (AC852 from Toronto to London) were also cancelled, highlighting how smaller airports are still vulnerable to global operational challenges.
Wider Ripple Effect on Travelers
According to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), over 10,000 travelers were impacted across the country by midday. Many were left scrambling for alternative flights amid peak summer travel, with few options remaining due to high seat occupancy. Passengers were advised to consult the “View Your Journey” tracking tools provided by their airlines and to opt into mobile notifications for real-time updates.
The Canadian Transportation Agency reminded travelers of their rights under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations, including potential compensation for flight disruptions not caused by extraordinary circumstances.
Government and Airport Response
In a press statement, Transport Canada acknowledged the disruption and stated that it is working with the affected airlines to investigate the root causes, which appear to stem from a mix of technical issues, staffing shortages, and residual weather complications in parts of Europe and the U.S.
Toronto Pearson, Vancouver YVR, and Billy Bishop have all enhanced customer service staffing and are providing food vouchers, lounge access, and hotel accommodations for stranded passengers.
Advice for Upcoming Travelers
Travelers flying to or from Canada over the next few days are urged to:
- Check flight status frequently via official airline apps or websites
- Arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before international flights
- Monitor weather conditions in departure and arrival cities
- Stay informed about travel rights and compensation under Canadian law
Conclusion
As of July 31, Canada’s aviation infrastructure is facing serious pressure from cascading delays and cancellations. While airline and government agencies are working to restore regular operations, the travel landscape remains uncertain. Passengers are advised to remain patient, proactive, and prepared as recovery efforts continue.
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