Extreme cold causing delays, cancellations at Calgary International Airport

As extreme cold grips the Prairies, it's impacting Calgary's airport, causing many delays and, in some cases, cancellations.

According to Calgary International Airport's flight schedule, as of 8 a.m., 21 flights arriving in Calgary and 14 leaving the city were cancelled on Friday.

These came after at least 25 flights were cancelled on Thursday.

Those lucky enough to board a plane will have to wait for crews to de-ice them.

"This extra step needs to be completed within a certain amount of time prior to takeoff and requires co-ordination from several different airport partners," the Calgary Airport Authority told CTV News.

"Although it adds more time to the journey, it's one of the most important steps to ensure safe air travel."

Flights leaving Calgary on Friday morning were facing delays ranging from 10 minutes to an hour.

Some of the passengers CTV News spoke with said they've been frustrated by the delays and cancellations.

"If I don't make it, I'm going to miss my cruise," said one woman.

"The airline has left it up to us to get something else."

The airport authority says it is working with airlines and other partners to ensure there are no major disruptions.

It recommends travellers check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport and arrive early.

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

Tow trucks have been busy in the province helping vehicles impacted by the cold snap.

According to a spokesperson for AMA, since Tuesday, it has received more than 10,000 requests for roadside assistance -- roughly 10 times its normal call volume.

"All of our staff are in on overtime hours, extended hours, all of our service writers and contractors are currently out working as well," said AMA Roadside Assistance spokesperson Brandon Klassen.

As of Friday night, the wait time for people in Calgary needing a tow or a battery boost was 88 hours.

"It's just super important to know that if you are in a priority situation, or you're unsafe on the side of the road, we are prioritizing those calls to try to get to you quicker," Klassen said.

AMA stresses the importance of plugging your vehicle in three to four hours before you start it.

"If you can plug your car in, you may not need to call us."

WESTJET STATEMENT

Friday afternoon, WestJet issued a statement saying de-icing was challenging given the low temperatures and that they have been forced by the extreme cold to limit the time crews can spend outdoors.

They said flexible change/cancel guidelines are in place for those travelling to or from Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba between Jan. 11 and Jan.15.

Travel advisories can be viewed here.

The airline said 87 flights were cancelled Thursday and 104 Friday.

CALGARY TRANSIT DELAYS

The frigid weather was also wreaking havoc with city service too.

At 8:30 on Friday morning, Calgary Transit said CTrains in the downtown core were out of service due to a power issue.

Officials said shuttle buses were brought in to help passengers get to their destinations.

As of 12:30 p.m., Calgary Transit was able to resolve the issue and resume service through the downtown core. Some services are still impacted by the cold weather.