U.S. Airlines Forced to Cancel 10,000 Flights Ahead of ‘Historic’ Storm With Blizzard Conditions
An American Airlines A321T at JFK during a snowstorm
An historic nor’easter winter storm is bearing down on the I-95 corridor and could become one of the most significant snow events in years and the U.S. National Weather Service is warning of “impossible” travel conditions with blizzard conditions developing in many areas.
“A major winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow, strong winds, and coastal flooding across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast that may cause impossible travel conditions and power outages. Blizzard conditions are possible along coastal areas from the DelMarVa Peninsula through southeastern New England.”
The severe forecast has resulted in an extremely high number of flight cancellations, although for once, the number of flight delays pales in comparison given that there are relatively few flights operating that could experience delays.
At press time Sunday night, there were 3,413 cancelled flights within, into, and out of the United State today and the majority were concentrated around New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Boston area airports. At John F. Kennedy International Airport, 313 flights representing 43% of operations have been cancelled and at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, 244 flights, or 47% of operations, have been cancelled. That figure is 35% at Newark Liberty International Airport, representing 203 outbound flights.
The number of cancelled flights on Monday is 5,222, and already 98% of flights from LaGuardia Airport have been cancelled, as have 93% at Boston’s Edward Logan International Airport and 87% at JFK. In addition, 85% of flights originating at Philadelphia International Airport have been cancelled for Monday as have 83% of those at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
Over 1,250 flights have been cancelled preëmptively at those airports on Tuesday as well.
The view from an Amtrak Northeast Regional train in the Northeast Corridor
Rail service in the Northeast United States is also being impacted. Amtrak, the nation’s passenger rail service, said it is making “service adjustments” to its schedule but its announcement did not specify what they were.
“Out of an abundance of caution, and in consultation with our contract meteorologists, host railroads, and local officials, Amtrak is making service adjustments to some routes on Sunday, February 22 and Monday, February 23 due to dangerous weather conditions.”
The storm has impacted various airlines differently, to wit: JetBlue Airways has cancelled 44% of its total flights on Sunday, while that figure is 72% for Monday, while American Airlines, the world’s largest airline, has cancelled 9% on Sunday and 15% on Monday.
In addition to the need to cancel flights due to severe weather, airlines will cancel flights ahead of major storms to avoid having aircraft and crews out of place, thus making it easier to restart operations after the storm passes.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
