IROP Season is Here

 

Navigating Winter IROPs in Canada

It’s that time of year when IROPs wreak havoc on travel plans in Canada. IROP stands for irregular operations, a term used when an airline has to switch to plan B—or much further down the alphabet.

Photo by Nice M Nshuti on Unsplash

Winter presents many challenges for airlines in Canada, and while they work diligently to mitigate these issues, some disruptions are unavoidable. Airlines only make money when they can transport passengers to their destinations safely. To better manage weather-related IROPs, airlines use strategies aimed at minimizing their impact.

One such strategy is the scheduling of larger "block" times during the winter. Block time refers to the duration between when an aircraft’s main cabin door closes at the departure airport and when it reopens at the destination. Longer block times account for delays due to necessary processes like de-icing, especially on early-morning flights when frost may have formed on the aircraft. Below is a comparison of winter and summer block times for flights from Halifax (YHZ) to Toronto (YYZ) on January 15th.

The Challenge of Canadian Winter IROPs

Canadian winters bring disruptions that can span wide geographic areas and long durations. When major hubs like Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, or Vancouver experience winter storms, airlines face a significant test of their operational resilience.

Passengers rarely remember smooth, uneventful travel days, but the frustrations of disruptive ones linger. To recover more efficiently, airlines often make the difficult decision to preemptively cancel flights. While frustrating, this strategy has its merits. For instance, grounding a fleet at an airport during a snowstorm slows recovery efforts, whereas moving planes away from affected areas allows airlines to resume service more quickly once conditions improve. Proactive cancellations also reduce chaos at airports by preventing thousands of passengers from crowding terminals while waiting for delayed flights.

Airport Capacity During Winter Storms

Airlines also contend with airport capacity limits during severe weather. Each airport has a finite number of takeoff, landing, and de-icing operations it can accommodate during winter storms. Reduced visibility further complicates matters, as aircraft must be spaced farther apart during landings, diminishing airspace capacity.

For example, Toronto Pearson Airport can normally handle over 50 arrivals per hour in ideal conditions. In a snowstorm, this capacity may be halved, forcing airlines and air traffic control to prioritize flights. If an airline is accustomed to 10 arrivals per hour but is reduced to 5, tough choices must be made: cancel, consolidate, or delay flights. You can read more about flow management, GDPs, and ground stops in “What the Flow! Why Is My Flight Delayed?”

Tips for Air Travel During Canadian Winters

Here are some practical tips to help you navigate air travel during the winter season:

1. Choose Longer Connections
   When booking connecting flights, opt for longer connection times. While extended airport waits may not be ideal, they significantly improve your chances of making your connection. One exception is “through” flights, where the same aircraft continues onward after a stop. These can reduce connection-related stress, and you can identify them by flights sharing the same flight number.

2. Start Early in the Day
   Early morning flights are less likely to face delays caused by cascading disruptions throughout the day. While weather may still affect your flight, you’ll avoid issues like waiting for an inbound aircraft or crew reaching their maximum duty hours later in the day.

3. Plan for Disruptions
   Accept that delays and cancellations are a possibility. Choose flights with a buffer for critical events, such as weddings or meetings. Avoid booking the latest possible flight before an important event—it’s a risky gamble.

4. Practice Patience
   Patience goes a long way during IROPs. Airlines want to recover quickly, but the process may feel excruciatingly slow. Avoid taking your frustration out on staff for situations they cannot control. Remaining calm and polite may even improve your chances of receiving assistance.

5. Know Your Rights
   Familiarize yourself with the airline’s responsibilities during IROPs. In most cases, airlines are not liable for delays and cancellations caused by weather. If you feel mistreated, document the issue and file a complaint later, either with the airline or the relevant government body. In Canada, consult the Air Passenger Protection Regulations for more information.

6. Check Your Credit Card’s Travel Insurance

Even if an airline is not responsible for a delay, many credit cards include travel insurance that covers trip interruptions, delays, and lost baggage. Understand your credit card’s policy, and keep documentation and receipts to support any claims you may need to file. 

7. Remember: Airline Staff Are Human Too
   Many airline staff are in the same weather-induced mess as you. Customer service agents often bear the brunt of passenger frustration, despite being messengers of the facts. Consider how difficult it is to deliver bad news to hundreds of passengers. Additionally, many airline employees, such as pilots and flight attendants, are also on the road during IROPs. Some commute on empty seats from other cities, and during disruptions, those empty seats disappear. If you can, take a moment to thank them for keeping you safe.

By understanding the challenges of winter travel and preparing for potential disruptions, you can navigate Canadian winters with greater ease and patience. Safe travels!