Major carriers ground thousands of flights as winter storm blankets East Coast through New Mexico, stranding weekend travelers and triggering emergency rebooking waivers.
A powerful winter storm has forced U.S. airlines to cancel more than 8,000 flights over the weekend, disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers as snow and ice spread from Massachusetts to New Mexico.
Flight tracking service FlightAware reported 3,132 cancellations for Saturday and 4,935 for Sunday at the time of reporting. The total includes both domestic and international flights, with airlines taking preemptive action to avoid stranding passengers and aircraft as weather conditions deteriorate.
American Airlines led cancellations with more than 2,000 flights grounded for travel on Jan. 24, according to Flightradar24. Southwest Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights, while United Airlines scrubbed more than 500 departures. The cancellation count is expected to rise as the storm intensifies.
Delta Air Lines canceled most flights from North Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee, citing passenger and crew safety concerns. The Atlanta-based carrier joined other major airlines in issuing travel waivers covering affected routes.
American Airlines responded by adding 17 flights late Friday to and from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, connecting key U.S. cities ahead of the storm’s overnight arrival.
Airlines have urged passengers to verify flight status before heading to airports. Weather advisories continue to develop as snow, ice, and cold temperatures affect a majority of U.S. states.
Delta’s waiver covers most eastern U.S. travel itineraries, including airports in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, plus additional locations across the central and southeastern United States. American Airlines is allowing passengers to modify plans to and from 34 U.S. airports for travel between Jan. 23 and 25 without penalty.
United Airlines published a similar waiver permitting passengers with original travel dates between Jan. 23 and 25 to adjust itineraries without fees. The waiver applies to more than 30 U.S. airports.
Airport operations face significant challenges as runways and taxiways require frequent plowing to maintain safe aircraft movement. Before departure, aircraft must undergo de-icing procedures to remove and prevent ice accumulation on surfaces.
Airlines routinely cancel flights proactively during severe winter weather to prevent aircraft displacement and avoid stranding passengers and crew. Airports may reduce arrival and departure capacity to manage delays and congestion during snowstorms.
Affected passengers should contact their airline or use carrier websites and mobile apps to explore rebooking options. The disruptions affect not only domestic travel but also international flights connecting through U.S. airports in the storm’s path.
The backlog of travelers from weekend cancellations is expected to create lingering congestion in coming days as airlines work to restore normal operations.
Key Takeaways
- More than 8,000 U.S. flights canceled over the weekend as winter storm affects areas from Massachusetts to New Mexico.
- American Airlines leads with 2,000+ cancellations, followed by Southwest with 1,000+ and United with 500+ for Saturday travel.
- Major carriers, including Delta, American, and United, issued penalty-free travel waivers covering 30+ airports for Jan. 23-25 travel.
- Airlines advise passengers to check flight status before airport arrival as disruptions expected to persist into early week.
