Normal operations resume at Vancouver International Airport after widespread delays

An Air Canada flight departing for Toronto, bottom, taxis to a runway as a WestJet flight bound for Palm Springs takes off at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on March 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

After three days of delays at Vancouver International Airport, normal operations have resumed and flights, both incoming and outgoing, are running as usual.

Dozens of flights were delayed and cancelled at YVR due to shortages of Nav Canada resources and staffing, including air traffic controllers, with the issues starting at 3 p.m. on Monday.

In a statement on Wednesday, Nav Canada said a temporary traffic management initiative was in place to “maintain a safe flow of traffic” and ensure the “quantity of aircraft in a given airspace or airport remains manageable.”

By Thursday, the airport confirmed the issues had been resolved.

“Nav Canada has informed airlines and the airport that it will be able to provide standard operations today,” YVR said in a statement released via its social media shortly after 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning.

At 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nav Canada issued a statement via X that said the flow of traffic at Vancouver’s airport had returned to “normal levels” and that its team was “continuing to keep everyone moving safely and efficiently.”

Travellers are advised to check the status of their flight through the airport’s website or with the airline.