Winnipeg airport avoids ‘significant impact’ during U.S. flight grounding

Winnipeg Richardson International Airport says it did not experience a significant impact from the Friday grounding of all U.S. flights, according to a statement provided to CTV News.

The grounding was issued by the Federal Aviation Administration due to a communication issue affecting all U.S. Air Route Traffic Control Centers, leading to a temporary nationwide halt on U.S. flights.

While the stop affected many airports, Winnipeg reported that operations remained largely unaffected during the ground stop period, with ongoing coordination to maintain safe and efficient operations.

Airports in several Canadian cities, including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, reported that flights to and from the U.S. were disrupted by the grounding, highlighting a broader impact beyond Winnipeg.

The Winnipeg Airports Authority says travelers should check their flight status before heading to the airport as the situation evolved and ground stops were lifted hours later, with continued monitoring and coordination.