Wabush Airport runway closure strands hundreds of passengers for days

One Labrador man is worried he might not make it home for the holidays after Wabush Airport cancelled multiple flights for several days.

Since Friday, the airport’s runway has been closed to traffic due to severe weather and PAL Airlines said it’s significantly disrupting operations.

“Although the forecast was initially favourable for Sunday, weather and runway closure once again forced PAL Airlines to cancel both scheduled flights and additional planned recovery flights during the day,” it said in a social media post.

Lucas Fitzpatrick is one passenger trying to make it home to Labrador City, but has been left stranded in Quebec City.

His journey home started on Friday, when he went to Montreal hoping to catch a morning flight to Wabush. He said the plane was fully boarded for an hour when they were told that they wouldn’t be taking off that day.

On Saturday his flight was rescheduled to take him to Quebec City, then Labrador. But once arriving in Quebec City, Fitzpatrick said the flight was cancelled again.

While the airline says it is working to, or has provided, accommodations to stranded passengers, Fitzpatrick says PAL declined to offer him any help.

“I asked about accommodations and they said it was weather related so they couldn't. They didn't do anything,” he said. “I am very annoyed.”

Now, Fitzpatrick said he is relying on help from his family. Although he has a flight scheduled for a Monday morning flight, he isn’t hopeful.

If delayed again, he says “My parents are … willing to fill a few jerry cans and drive to Quebec City to get me.”

Labrador MP Phillip Earle also took to social media to address the runway closures, writing he has been in communication with the Wabush Airport and the airline.

“Airport crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to improve runway conditions, while the airlines have deployed additional staff and resources and are working around the clock to recover operations and clear the backlog of affected passengers,” he wrote.

Earle said the airport is focused on restoring service safely and further updates will be provided.

CBC News has asked Pal for comment but has not received a response at time of publishing.

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