Some Yellowknife evacuees arrive at Edmonton’s airport, while others slam airlines for alleged price increase

Relief for Northwest Territories residents, like Gwendolyn Spilsted, arriving in Edmonton on one of the first commercial flights out of Yellowknife since Wednesday’s evacuation order.

“We were told we were okay, and there was no threat to the town, that the fire is still far away, and the next thing you know we are being evacuated,” said Spilsted.

Spilsted has a high-risk pregnancy and knew she needed to be near a hosptial.

“I’ve been going in and out of preterm labour, that’s why I was in Yellowknife,” she explained.

“I feel the information could have been portrayed to us better, I feel it could have been voiced better.”

Yellowknife evacuees arrive at Edmonton airport. (Photo Credit: Laura Krause, CityNews)

While some are left waiting in lineups outside the Yellowknife airport Wednesday for government evacuation flights to Calgary. Those landing in Edmonton, say they knew the evacuation was coming.

“We booked last week,” said Cheryl Williams, evacuated Yellowknife. “It’s been hectic, really crazy. And I guess there is nothing open in town, my dad called this morning and said there’s no food, stores, nothing open so you’re on your own, whoever stayed behind is on their own.”

Madison Walls, another individual who evacuated from Yellowknife said, “I booked this flight yesterday morning before we got the evacuation order just in case, and it ended up coming in really handy.”

Yellowknife evacuees arrive at Edmonton airport. (Photo Credit: Laura Krause, CityNews)

Despite having her bags already packed and a ticket booked, Walls says it all happened so fast.

“It happened really fast, the whole summer it’s been really smokey but I don’t think I ever thought it would become an evacuation until Monday this week. Things just started to get worse much faster,” Walls explained.

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Airfare concerns

As Yellowknife residents scramble to find a way out of the city, some blasting Air Canada on social media for spiked fares.

A spokesperson says those flights posted for more than $1,000 out of Yellowknife “are based on complex itineraries involving multiple flights, and sometimes multiple carriers, rather than direct flights out.”

Are these your "special flights" for the people trying to evacuate Yellowknife by Friday? pic.twitter.com/otNIwUvdSb

— Dave Keon's Cousin ???? (@DaveKeonsCousin) August 17, 2023

Any comment on the @AirCanada airfare surge amid the #NWT #wildfires evacuation in #Yellowknife? @AirPassRightsCA https://t.co/VZjyG6Sg0D pic.twitter.com/u51tmyl3cG

— ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????? ????  (@tweet4howi) August 17, 2023

Air Canada says they added two extra flights out of Yellowknife Thursday, and put a cap on their fares for those evacuating the capital city.

“Although flights are nearly full, at the time I am sending this (10 a.m.) there is a Yellowknife-Edmonton flight for $272 for example for tomorrow (Friday, Aug. 18). All flights are full today.”

Screenshot of flight cost between Edmonton and Yellowknife. (Photo Credit: Air Canada)

As for Spilsted, she’s happy to be reunited with family in Edmonton, but hopes she can return to Yellowknife soon. Before it’s too late.

“I’m hoping that if everything opens up in the next week or so that I am able to go home, because I might not be able to fly anymore, I might be too far along in my pregnancy,” she explained.

“I definitely think they could have been more proactive about it with it, they should have had a better plan, and they should have made it more clear to people.”