Lucy O’Leary is heading to Abbotsford, B.C. for the holidays and is bringing Christmas dinner with her.
Travelling with her husband Monday from the Thunder Bay International Airport, O’Leary’s daughter and her family is en route from Toronto and they’ll meet up in Calgary before heading to her son’s home so the family can spend Christmas together.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve all been together for Christmas so we’re really looking forward to it,” she said.
While the O’Learys shipped most of their gifts to their son’s home already, they are travelling with most of their Christmas dinner supplies.
“Nothing better happen to it,” she said with a laugh.
Lakehead University student Allison Kissick was waiting to fly home to Thompson, Man., via Winnipeg Monday morning and said she was pleased to see there was no snow in the forecast.
“I’ve had flights cancelled and stayed overnight in Toronto, stayed overnight in Winnipeg, so I’m used to it, but so far so good,” she said.
Kissick said she didn’t expect any delays but she’s always prepared with a good book, especially around the busy holiday travel season.
Also prepared for the crowds was Ignace’s Jeanine Desaulniers, who drove up from Ignace with friends to head first to Montreal and then Cuba.
“It’s not a normal thing (for me) but I do travel quite a bit,” she said, adding she was ready for some warm, sunny weather this Christmas.
The mild weather was keeping the busy airport running relatively smoothly and WestJet station manager Jennifer Wearn said the weather has been key in keeping departing flights on time.
“Southern Ontario was hit very hard with weather over the last couple of weeks … we have had a lot of delayed inbound flights but it’s hasn’t been that bad thankfully,” she said.
And with so many travellers coming through the airport, Wearn said the best advice she can give passengers is to check-in early and keep checked baggage to a minimum when possible.
Thunder Bay International Airport Authority president and CEO Scott McFadden agreed that an extra 10 to 20 minutes will help relax otherwise stressed travelers.
Also crediting the weather to the lack of delays, McFadden said while Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year for the airport, the two weeks leading up to Christmas run a close second.
And while he didn’t have specific information on the number of travellers the airport has seen so far this December, he said it will most likely be the busiest on record.
The delays and cancelled flights in Europe caused by a larger-than-normal amount of snow hasn’t had an impact on local traffic yet, he added.
“People travel from Thunder Bay all over the world so it wouldn’t surprise me if somebody’s had their plans upset,” he said.
