Winter Storm Disrupts Air Travel in Sault Ste. Marie

A major winter storm has caused significant disruptions to air travel in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, with both Porter Airlines and Air Canada cancelling multiple flights. The cancellations impact both inbound and outbound flights, and travellers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates.

Flight Cancellations

As of Monday, March 16, 2026, both Porter Airlines and Air Canada have cancelled their afternoon and evening flights from Sault Ste. Marie. Departures scheduled for Tuesday morning have also been cancelled due to the lack of aircraft on site, according to Terry Bos, president and CEO of the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation [Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation].

Flights are currently scheduled to resume as normal on Tuesday afternoon. Bos estimates that the storm will result in the cancellation of two Air Canada arrivals and departures, as well as two Porter Airlines arrivals and departures.

Storm Warning and Travel Advisories

Sault Ste. Marie is under an Orange Warning for a winter storm expected to bring 40-80 cm of snow through Sunday and into Monday. Northeasterly wind gusts may reach 70 to 80 km/h, creating near-zero visibility due to heavy and blowing snow.

Travellers are strongly advised to expect travel disruptions, allow extra travel time, and prepare for changing visibility conditions. Checking flight status with their respective airlines before heading to the airport is crucial.

Airline Contact Information

• Air Canada: 1-888-247-2262 [Air Canada]
• Porter Airlines: 1-416 (Luggage Inquiries – partial number provided in source) [Porter Airlines]

Previous Disruptions

Earlier this winter, persistent blizzard conditions grounded all but one flight at the Sault Ste. Marie Airport for a six-day period over the Christmas holidays.

Available Flights

As of March 16, 2026, Air Canada offers flights from Sault Ste. Marie (YAM) to Toronto (YYZ) starting from CAD 220. Other destinations with one-way economy fares include Vancouver (YVR) at CAD 364, Orlando (MCO) at CAD 325, Ottawa (YOW) at CAD 288, Montréal (YUL) at CAD 277, London, UK (LHR) at CAD 1,429 (round-trip), Victoria (YYJ) at CAD 354, Edmonton (YEG) at CAD 367, Halifax (YHZ) at CAD 390, Winnipeg (YWG) at CAD 356, Calgary (YYC) at CAD 277, and Kelowna (YLW) at CAD 708 [Air Canada].

Porter Airlines also provides flights to Sault Ste. Marie, with details available on their website [Porter Airlines] and through Skyscanner [Skyscanner].