Alerts Sign-up
At least 18 airliners were grounded due to damage from a hailstorm that struck Calgary International Airport last week, with the impact expected to persist for weeks. Golf ball-sized hail hit the airport on the evening of August 5, causing extensive damage to both aircraft and the terminal.
WestJet, headquartered in Calgary, reported that 16 of its planes were affected by the storm, accounting for approximately 10% of its fleet. Edmonton-based Flair Airlines also lost two Boeing 737s to the storm, out of its total fleet of about 20 aircraft.
WestJet could have faced more severe consequences. The airline had 22 planes on the ramp and received about 30 minutes' warning before the storm arrived. Staff managed to move four planes under cover before the hail began. Despite these efforts, over 300 flights were canceled in subsequent days as repairs commenced.
