Storms cause travel mayhem across Canada: Where are people going, how are airlines responding?

While much of Canada faces blizzards and snow storms, causing chaos for many holiday travellers, where are Canadians actually going?

According to data provided to Yahoo Canada from Skyscanner, the most popular flights over the next two weeks, from Canadian cities, are:

1. New Delhi – From Vancouver

2. Mumbai – From Toronto

3. Ahmedabad – From Toronto

4. Cancun – From Ottawa

5. Manila – From Toronto

6. Las Vegas – From Vancouver

7. Orlando – From Toronto

8. Vancouver – From Calgary

9. Ho Chi Minh City – From Vancouver

10. New York – From Toronto

For Skyscanner's Travel Trends report, a survey was conducted between Oct. 3 to Oct. 28 with 1,000 Canadian adults who indicated they plan to travel in the next three years. The data revealed that 55 per cent of respondents have been planning travel to visit/reunite with friends and family.

What to do if your flight is delayed, cancelled

After Vancouver International Airport halted flights on Wednesday, an update from the airport on Thursday morning indicated that the situation has "improved."

"Travellers are encouraged to check the latest flight information directly with their airline to determine if their scheduled flight will be departing," information from the airport reads. "Passengers waiting for baggage can receive assistance by talking with their airline at airline info counters or speaking to an airport employee to be directed to where they need help."

"With a winter storm watch in effect, crews are also working to prepare for increased snow and frozen rain conditions in the coming days which will impact flights. Passengers should expect delays and cancellations as a result of the incoming weather system... We thank everyone for continued patience and understanding as we work to get passengers safely on their way this holiday season."

Air Canada is also warning travellers about a severe storm affecting flights across Canada and parts of the U.S.

"Please check your flight's status before going to the airport," the company wrote on Twitter. "We appreciate our passengers’ understanding and thank our teams for their dedication as we work with all our airport partners to get our customers safely on their way."

Travellers with Air Canada can check the daily travel outlook for more information about delays and flight cancellations in their destination. The airline is offering a flight change, free of charge, for impacted flights.

Porter Airlines is also offering complementary flight changes for travellers who are booked on a flight impacted by the weather.

In an update on Thursday, Westjet warned customers that "there is very limited reaccommodation availability due to the high demand for travel this time of year and the significant impact across the industry."

The airline added that if a flight is cancelled, travellers should receive an email notification with an alternative flight option or information on how to get a refund to the original form of payment.

"We are monitoring multiple weather systems and anticipate further weather impacts in the coming days. If you have confirmed travel between now and December 26, and would like to proactively cancel a flight only reservation, you can do so through the following refund form," the information reads.

"Once the refund form is completed, you will received a confirmation on screen once successfully submitted. Any guest who proactively cancels their flight will receive a full refund to original form of payment. Additionally, enhanced flexible change and cancel policies remain in place between now and January 8, 2023, provided changes are actioned before December 26."