The latest snow storm which shut down two major bridges and put traffic around the city to standstill also cancelled a total of 323 flights by early afternoon Friday at Vancouver International Airport. As of 1:30 p.m. PT, YVR had only 22 successful departures and 32 arrivals, according to an operational update from the airport.

PHOTOS By Sukhwant Singh Dhillon / DESIBUZZCanada

VANCOUVER – The latest snow storm which shut down two major bridges and put traffic around the city to standstill also cancelled a total of 323 flights by early afternoon Friday at Vancouver International Airport.

As of 1:30 p.m. PT, YVR had only 22 successful departures and 32 arrivals, according to an operational update from the airport, reported CBC News.

An update earlier in the day said the airport had received heavy snow overnight, with another eight to 14 centimetres of snow, ice pellets and rain expected throughout the day.

“There have been proactive, widespread cancellations from Air Canada and WestJet. We continue to work with our airline partners to safely re-start their operations to get passengers on their way amid additional winter weather conditions,” the update stated.

Between midnight and 2 p.m., YVR said that 51 aircraft had been de-iced.

The airport is advising all travellers to prepare for possible changes in flight plans as the weather continues to interfere with operations.

Earlier this week, the airport said it was restricting the number of international flights, to help clear a backlog of planes on the tarmac.

The Vancouver airport was quiet in the early morning on Friday, with just a small number of travellers sleeping on the floor, but by midday, there were long lines filled with people trying to rebook cancelled flights. 

Robin Langill told CBC he’s been stuck at the airport since arriving on a 12-hour flight from Hong Kong on Tuesday. The next leg of his journey to Saskatoon was cancelled the same day, and now he’s not scheduled to fly home until Saturday.

Langill, who has no friends or family in the Vancouver area, said he’s feeling “tired, dirty, discouraged” after three days without a shower, sleeping on chairs and benches in the airport.

“The airport here in Vancouver has provided us with water, blankets, pillows and snacks. Air Canada has given us nothing but this huge line,” he said, gesturing to a queue of passengers waiting for their chance to reschedule.

On Friday YVR said in a release that it was providing access to more than 400 hotel rooms at local hotels and restaurant gifts cards, free-of-charge, to passengers facing overnight delays.

The hotel rooms and meal vouchers will be available from Friday Dec. 23 to Tuesday, Dec. 27. YVR said passengers will be able to stay free-of-charge for up to four nights as they wait for their next flight.

Courtesy CBC News