Winter storm halts flight operations in US; 15,500+ flights canceled

Dhaka: A major winter storm, “Fern,” continues to cause widespread disruptions across the United States and Canada. Media reports said around 200 million Americans have already been affected nationwide.

Meanwhile, the aviation industry has taken one of the largest hits in recent times, with over 15,500 flights canceled and 43,800 delayed.

On Friday, January 23, 1,209 flights were canceled and 23,732 were delayed. The numbers further increased on Saturday, reaching 4,516 cancellations and 17,798 delays.

Sunday marked the worst day for airlines, with 9,796 flights canceled and 2,316 delayed. The figures are continuously rising by the hour as the storm intensifies.

The worst disruptions have been reported at major airports in Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New York. Passengers scheduled to fly this weekend have been advised to rebook or cancel their tickets.

Several US airlines, including Delta, American, United, and Southwest, have issued winter weather travel waivers for the eastern, central, and southeastern regions. These waivers allow passengers to change dates or routes or cancel their flights without additional fees. JetBlue and Spirit have also announced similar measures.

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