More than 2,400 flights were canceled in the U.S. Friday, and another 2,400 Saturday, according to the flight tracking service FlightAware. United Airlines suspended all operations at Washington Dulles International Airport Friday, and said it would do the same in New York Saturday. Another 3,800 flights have been canceled for Saturday, including all flights into and out of Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore and NY. Airlines hope to be fully back in business by Sunday afternoon.
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Miami International Airport had 41 delays and 52 cancellations, FlightAware data showed.
The only good news for fliers: Saturday is the slowest travel day of the week.
Flights in airports across the country, including Quad City International Airport, were affected by the blizzard bearing down on the eastern United States.
At least five people have died in storm-related crashes in Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina.
Edinburgh Airport also urged passengers travelling to the U.S. to contact their airline, after the cancellation of one flight on Saturday to NY. Travelers should contact the airline before heading to the airport, as flight status could change at any minute, she added.
One major event in Washington was still on: the March for Life, an annual anti-abortion rally that’s usually one of the largest events on the National Mall.
Blizzard warnings stretched from Washington to NY with heavy snow likely to go even further north than that, stopping just short of Boston.
Parker says that though delays aren’t now affecting travelers too bad, airport officials expect to see delays of up to three hours by the end of the day, when the airport institutes its ground delay program.
According to the National Weather Service, parts of the mid-Atlantic states could get as much as 2 feet of snow this weekend, while the NY metro area could get as much as a foot. Check the list for which dates are included, as it varies by location – some travel waivers will work through January 24, while others are only through January 23.
For those looking to cancel their trips, they need to wait until the airline officially calls off the flight.
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Most carriers announced fee waivers that will allow passengers to book later flights for free.
