Winter Storm Fern in the United States: How many flights have been canceled and from which airlines?
The massive winter storm hitting the United States has forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights.
Winter storm warnings have been issued for more than 1,400 counties, affecting over 97 million people. Extreme temperatures, ice, and snow have caused massive flight cancellations, school closures, and transportation disruptions. Sunday has become the worst day for flight cancellations in the past year, according to FlightAware, the flight tracking website.
As of this edition, 6,151 flights have been canceled for Sunday. On Saturday, there are 3,569 cancellations, and Friday saw 1,204 flights canceled.
Which airports have been affected?
More than 59 percent of flights from Nashville, 74 percent from Dallas-Fort Worth, and 32 percent from Charlotte-Douglas were canceled on Saturday. Among the major carriers, American Airlines is leading the cancellations, followed by Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that airports may need to close. In a statement, the FAA said it expects delays, diversions, and widespread suspensions as the storm worsens, and it will work with airports to ensure runways and aircraft are properly de-iced.
American Airlines adds flights to DFW
American Airlines is adding multiple flights to and from its hub in Dallas for affected travelers. According to the airline’s statement, there are more than 3,200 seats available for passengers to travel before the storm intensifies.
Additionally, another 3,000 seats have been added between Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
However, the city’s emergency management and crisis response director, Kevin Oden, told CNN that Dallas residents should have enough food, medicine, and supplies for four to five days of sheltering in place while waiting for the bad weather to pass, possibly until Wednesday.
He also warned that risks will continue even after the precipitation ends, including pipe issues and water line breaks. “We want to make sure power is working, that people can travel on the roads, that hospitals remain operational, and that water is flowing. If we detect problems in any of these systems, we have contingency plans to restore them and support residents,” he added.
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