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(UPDATE: Aug. 19 @ 10:10 am) - Kelowna International Airport director Sam Samaddar has clarified that the airport is open, but the airspace around it is closed.
For at least the next 24 hours, there will be no commercial flights departing from or arriving at YLW, but the airport is working with forestry and Transport Canada to determine what can be done for tomorrow.
"With the air tanker activities within the airspace during the day, the likelihood [of having commercial flights] is not possible,” Samaddar said. “But the air tankers that are fighting the fire are not operating at night, and that gives an opportunity to try to get some commercial flights.”
Samaddar advised that those with booked flights should check with their airline for updates.
He added: “The other opportunity that they have is to try and rebook through either Penticton or Kamloops, depending on the carrier.”
(Original story: Aug. 19 @ 9:05 am) - The Kelowna International Airport (YLW) remains closed until further notice, and all of today's scheduled flights, for both arrivals and departures, have been cancelled.
YLW shut down yesterday to allow aerial fire-fighting activity for the wildfires that are raging in West Kelowna, Kelowna and Lake Country.
The airspace surrounding Kelowna International Airport has been closed to allow aerial fire-fighting activity for the wildfires in the Kelowna area. All arriving and departing flights have been cancelled until further notice. Updates will be provided at https://t.co/gpupdwsW84.
— Kelowna International Airport (@ylwkelowna) August 18, 2023
Madison Kruger with WestJet media relations told KelownaNow that the airline has no estimation for when service will resume “as the situation is rapidly evolving and Kelowna’s air space is currently closed to aid firefighting efforts.”
To aid in evacuation efforts, WestJet has two recovery flights scheduled for today from Penticton to Calgary.
A representative of Air Canada said the airline is in close contact with Transport Canada and the Kelowna Airport Authority to determine when commercial flights will be allowed to resume.
"This is a dynamic, evolving situation, and our hearts are with everyone in the Okanagan," they added.
KelownaNow has reached out to YLW media relations and is awaiting to hear from the airport director.
The Kelowna airport has approximately 66 flight departures and arrivals every day.
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