Historic Winter Storm Grounds Thousands: Is Your Flight Canceled?

A powerful winter storm is causing unprecedented disruption to commercial air travel across the United States this weekend. Airlines have been forced to cancel thousands of flights due to a dangerous mix of snow, ice, and frigid temperatures. This widespread grounding marks one of the most severe periods for air travel since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scale of Air Travel Disruption

Flight tracking data confirms the chaos across the country's air traffic network. As of Sunday, the total number of canceled US flights for the weekend is well over 11,000. Some reports indicate the total number of grounded flights through Monday could exceed 15,000.

On Saturday alone, over 4,000 flights were scrapped. Sunday saw an even greater impact, with more than 8,200 cancellations logged. Thousands more flights were delayed, compounding the travel headache for passengers nationwide.

Major Hubs Hit Hardest

Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport (DFW) and Nashville International Airport (BNA) are among the most heavily impacted hubs. DFW, a major hub for American Airlines, wiped out the majority of its scheduled departures. Nashville International axed more than half of its flight schedule.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the world's busiest airport, is also bracing for slower operations. Officials there are treating runways and taxiways to maintain some level of service. Gus Hudson, a senior deputy general manager, stated that operations would be at a slower pace. Charlotte Douglas International Airport was also cited as a hard-hit location.

Airline and Passenger Response

Major US carriers are taking steps to mitigate the impact on travelers. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have issued extensive travel waivers. These waivers allow passengers to rebook trips without incurring extra fees. Delta specifically issued waivers covering the eastern US, including hubs in New York and Boston.

• Airlines are repositioning aircraft to aid in faster recovery efforts.
• Carriers are also adjusting staffing levels at affected Southern airports.
• Travelers are strongly advised to check their flight status directly with their airline before heading to the airport.

Widespread Weather and Emergency Declarations

The severe weather system, sometimes referred to as Winter Storm Fern, is dumping heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The storm stretches from the Southern Rockies all the way to New England. Forecasters warn of dangerously low temperatures and frigid wind chills lingering into Monday.

More than 140 million people across the US are under some form of winter weather alert. In response, at least 17 states and Washington, D.C., have declared states of emergency. These declarations unlock vital resources and help coordinate response efforts. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urged the public to avoid road travel over the weekend. President Donald Trump was briefed on the storm and approved federal emergency declarations for multiple states. The storm's impact on air and ground travel is expected to persist for several days after the heaviest precipitation moves out.

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