WestJet stated that it will issue flight cancellations "in the foreseeable future" after its planes were damaged by a hailstorm in Calgary last week, leading to disrupted travel plans for thousands of passengers.

The second-largest airline in the country added that 16 aircraft, or 10 percent of its fleet, remain out of service nine days after the storm dropped golf ball-sized hail on parts of southern Alberta, including the province's largest airport.

After assessing the damage, the airline says that obtaining specialized equipment and materials to complete repairs and inspections will take several weeks.

WestJet added that it has canceled more than 600 flights since August 5, with an average of 50 flights canceled daily and over 20,000 customers affected.

The Calgary-based company said that fewer flights will be canceled as planes return to service later this month, but it shares passengers' frustration regarding the impact of the storm.

The airline clarified that it is facing "very high volumes" of calls and emails as it works to assist passengers with rebooking or opting for refunds.

Experts noted that airfare prices are likely to rise in the short term due to reduced flight capacity following the hailstorm, which also damaged the local terminal at Calgary Airport and four aircraft at Flair Airlines and Cargojet.