Canadian North cancels Iqaluit flights

Canadian North grounded all of its flights to and from Iqaluit Wednesday at the tail end of the blizzard, citing the lack of a viable alternate airport — a legal requirement for dispatching flights.

The cancellations affected passengers in Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq, and Hall Beach along with people in Igloolik, Cape Dorset, Pond Inlet and Clyde River.

Laval St. Germain, director of flight operations with Canadian North, says the airline is asking passengers to be patient.

"People have to remember that as an airline, when we fly into a destination like Iqaluit or anywhere, by law we have to have an alternate airport." 

That alternate airport is required to have weather better than the weather normally required to land.

St. Germain says Canadian North staff have reported there were also some damaged and stuck vehicles at the airport in Iqaluit.

The airline is asking passengers to check the Canadian North website for the status of flights.