Winter storm already disrupting U.S. travel as airlines cancel thousands of flights
Airlines are canceling thousands of U.S. flights ahead of big winter storm This is expected to bring a mix of ice, snow and frigid conditions across a 2,000-mile stretch of the country this weekend.
Delta Air Lines said Thursday evening that flight cancellations “are necessary at select airports in North Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee to ensure the safety of our customers and people.”
According to flight tracking service FlightAware, airlines had canceled 578 flights in the United States as of 5:15 p.m. Eastern Time, and about 2,500 additional flights had already been canceled for Saturday. Many disruptions are occurring at Texas airports, including 1,224 cancellations planned for Saturday at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, according to FlightAware data.
American Airlines, whose hub is DFW, said it was adding 17 additional flights to and from DFW Friday and Sunday to accommodate the influx of travelers rushing to make their trip. Eight of them were leaving DFW on Friday and nine would arrive in DFW on Sunday.
The airline also added 17 additional flights Saturday between Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Dallas airport officials issued a winter weather advisory urging travelers passing through the air hub to monitor road conditions, check the status of their flight with the airline before departure and keep an eye on the airport’s account on X for updates.
The major US airlines are issue travel exemptions before the storm, allowing customers to change their plans without penalty.
Delta said it had issued a travel waiver for the eastern United States, including Boston, New York and Philadelphia, in addition to its previous waiver covering parts of the central and southeastern states of the United States. The waivers allow travelers to rebook their flights, subject to certain restrictions.
American Airlines said Wednesday that passengers traveling to, through or from 34 U.S. airports can change their flights for free if they purchased their tickets before Jan. 19 and are booked on flights between Jan. 23 and 25. Eligible customers cannot change their origin or destination city and must make any changes before January 25.
