Heading into Saturday, airlines have already canceled more than 1,600 flights this weekend as a winter storm sweeps across much of the United States, bringing heavy snow, sleet, and frigid temperatures. The system is expected to disrupt operations at most major air travel hubs, including Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and New York.
Flight-tracking data shows that more than 400 flights were called off Friday, while another 1,325 were removed from Saturday’s flight schedules. Additional cancellations are expected as the storm continues to move through the region.
CNBC reported Friday that most major airlines are offering flexible rebooking options, temporarily waiving change and cancellation fees, along with fare differences for travelers with tickets to or from more than 40 airports nationwide.
American Airlines said Wednesday that travelers flying to, from, or through 34 U.S. airports may rebook their trips without penalty, provided tickets were purchased before January 19 and travel is scheduled between January 23 and January 25. Customers must keep the same origin and destination cities, and any changes must be made by January 25.
The airline added that it had already canceled roughly 16 percent of its scheduled flights for Saturday.
Airlines often move to cancel flights in advance of major storms as a preventive measure, aiming to avoid aircraft, passengers, and flight crews becoming stranded, a scenario that can compound disruptions long after severe weather has passed.
Dan DePodwin, vice president of forecasting operations at AccuWeather, said the storm “will likely result in thousands of flight cancellations on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.”
Airlines, meanwhile, are encouraging passengers to keep a close eye on their flight status and rely on mobile apps or airline websites for the quickest rebooking options as the system moves in.
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