More than 50 flights cancelled at Vancouver airport after overnight lightning storm

Lightning forced Vancouver International Airport to pause all operations for nearly six hours overnight Saturday, leaving dozens of flights grounded and passengers stranded on tarmacs.

Departing flights were unable to leave and arriving aircraft couldn't taxi to their gates between 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:55 a.m. Sunday. Some passengers spent up to four and a half hours waiting for information on the tarmac with minimal updates from the airport, according to travellers on affected flights.

By Sunday afternoon, more than 50 flights had been cancelled and at least 53 others delayed, according to YVR. Although weather conditions improved during the day, disruptions persisted as airlines worked to recover their schedules.

"We are working closely with our airline partners to support recovery of their schedule and get passengers on their way as quickly as possible," said Megan Sutton, YVR's senior communications specialist. The airport activated its terminal response team and called in additional staff to support passengers affected by the delays.

The lightning was part of an unusually strong storm system that pummeled southern British Columbia overnight. Environment Canada issued severe thunderstorm warnings for Metro Vancouver, Whistler, the Southern Gulf Islands and parts of Vancouver Island. The airport advised travellers scheduled to fly Sunday to check their flight status before heading to the terminal.