Winter storm triggers widespread U.S. flight cancellations

Airlines have begun cancelling large numbers of U.S. flights ahead of a major winter storm forecast to bring snow, ice and extreme cold across a roughly 2,000-mile stretch of the country this weekend. Disruptions are already significant, particularly in the southern and central United States.

By mid-afternoon on Thursday, nearly 1,000 flights had been cancelled nationwide, with more than 2,200 additional cancellations already scheduled for Saturday, according to FlightAware. Texas airports are among the hardest hit, with Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport alone accounting for over 1,100 Saturday cancellations.

Delta Air Lines confirmed pre-emptive cancellations at select airports in North Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee, citing safety concerns for passengers and staff. The airline has also expanded travel waivers to cover much of the eastern U.S., including Boston, New York and Philadelphia, allowing affected customers to rebook without penalty under certain conditions.

American Airlines has issued a similar waiver, covering travel to, from or through 34 U.S. airports. Customers who purchased tickets before January 19 for flights scheduled between January 23 and 25 may change their travel plans free of charge, provided they keep the same origin and destination and make changes by January 25.

Airlines continue to monitor the storm as conditions evolve, warning travellers to expect further disruptions.