A severe winter storm is causing major disruptions to US air travel, with thousands of flights cancelled or delayed. This comes at a critical time during the holiday season, impacting thousands of passengers.
As of Friday afternoon, FlightAware reported nearly 1,500 cancellations and over 5,400 delays across the country. The airports most affected are those serving the New York area, including John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia. Other impacted airports include Philadelphia, Detroit, and Toronto, Canada.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning, predicting up to 9 inches (23cm) of snow in New York and southern Connecticut. This warning is in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon.
Major airlines such as JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, Republic, and Southwest have collectively cancelled hundreds of flights. Social media posts from airports are urging travellers to check with their airlines for flight status updates.
The heaviest snowfall is expected between 6 pm and midnight, and drivers are warned of hazardous conditions. New York Governor Kathy Hochul advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel and, if they must travel, to plan ahead and allow extra time.
This is the second significant snowfall of the season for New York City, which experienced a similar event on December 14th. Mayor Eric Adams has asked commuters to leave work early or consider public transport to avoid road congestion.
Snow ploughs are already deployed and will begin clearing streets once two inches of snow has accumulated.
And here's where it gets controversial: with such severe weather conditions, should airlines be doing more to accommodate passengers? Are the airlines' responses adequate, or should they be offering more flexibility and support to affected travellers?
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
