The total solar eclipse is nearly here! Ahead of the spectacular celestial event, Canadian airlines and airports have safety tips for those travelling on April 8.
On Monday, parts of Canada will be able to see a total solar eclipse, when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun.
With the eclipse set to take place over certain parts of the country, airlines and airports have issued safety reminders and updates for how the eclipse may affect travellers.
Not all of Canada will be able to see the total eclipse, which is set to take place over parts of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. Those outside of these regions or the narrow path of totality will see a partial eclipse.
For those in the path of totality, on April 8 just after 3 p.m., the moon will pass between the Earth and sun, covering the sun and darkening the skies as if it were dusk or dawn.
Canadian airlines and airports have said they are not expecting any impacts to their operations during the eclipse. However, they warn that passengers should protect their eyes during the astronomical event.
"Guests, WestJetters and partners can be assured that safety remains WestJet's top priority and all necessary measures have been taken to ensure safe working and travelling conditions on April 8," said WestJet.
The airline said that while "no operational impacts are anticipated," guests travelling on flights that may intersect with the eclipse will receive an "additional pre-flight safety announcement."
The airline shared a list of flights that may intersect with the eclipse's path of totality, including flight WJA717 (Toronto - Vancouver), WJA1416 (Calgary - Orlando), and WJA2436 (Winnipeg - Cancun).
"Guests who will be travelling on one of these flights are encouraged to bring their own solar eclipse glasses," the airline said.
Air Canada told Narcity that it's possible that some of its flights will intersect with the path of the eclipse. However, the airline also says that, because flight routes and schedules can change, it's not possible to be certain about which flights will experience totality and for how long.
"As well, the eclipse shadow crosses quickly and it is a brief event, so a moving aircraft can easily miss it. For those onboard, the relatively small field of view provided by an aircraft window also means it may not be visible," the airline said.
A representative for Air Transat told Narcity that the airline will require shutters to be closed for the duration of the eclipse.
On the ground, airports say they are not expecting any operational impacts due to the eclipse, but did issue reminders to those who will be travelling on April 8.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, Toronto Pearson Airport's airport duty manager Jake Keating said that operations should be "business as usual" during the eclipse, with the exception of the airfield lighting being on during the middle of the day.
However, Keating warned passengers heading to the airport that 400-series highways are going to be "very busy" on the day of the eclipse as people travel to viewing locations.
"We're encouraging people to give themselves plenty of time to come to the airport, roadways are going to be very busy and very congested," he said.
Keating also noted that passengers should not be looking at the sun without proper eye protection.
In an email to Narcity, Hamilton International Airport, which will be directly in the path of totality, said it was "not anticipating any significant impacts to operations" as a result of the eclipse, but that it had "taken measures to ensure the safety of all employees and passengers."
"We also encourage travellers to allow extra time to get to and from the Airport on Monday as traffic across the region is expected to be heavier than usual," the airport said.
The eclipse will be a once-in-a-lifetime event for many — for example, Quebec hasn't witnessed a total solar eclipse in over 50 years, and it will be over 80 years before the next one, according to the Canadian Space Agency, so you won't want to miss your chance to see it.
If you'll be watching the eclipse, remember that it's never safe to look at the sun without eye protection (such as eclipse glasses) except during the few moments of totality when the sun is completely covered.
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
