Airfares may increase after Calgary hailstorm

Hailstorm causes WestJet to cancel flights

By Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press, August 8, 2024

CALGARY -- An aviation expert says airfares may go up in the immediate aftermath of a hailstorm that tore through Calgary on Monday, causing widespread damage and forcing WestJet to cancel dozens of flights.

"When there's a major weather event like this, it can disrupt the entire system," said Robert Kokonis, president of Toronto-based AirTrav Inc.

"The airlines have to re-route flights, they have to cancel flights, and that can lead to higher prices."Kokonis said the impact on airfares will likely be short-lived, but he said it's possible that prices could increase by as much as 10 per cent in the coming days.

"It really depends on how quickly WestJet is able to get its operations back up and running," he said.

WestJet said Monday that it had cancelled 111 flights at the Calgary International Airport due to the hailstorm. The airline said it was working to re-accommodate passengers on other flights.

The hailstorm, which hit Calgary on Monday afternoon, caused widespread damage to homes and vehicles. The city's emergency management agency said it had received more than 1,000 calls for service.