As a nor’easter makes its way up the East Coast, airlines have cancelled more than 600 flights. Some of the most impacted airlines include United Airlines, which called off 103 flights; Southwest, which cancelled 64; and JetBlue, which cancelled 63.
Snow began falling in Virginia on Wednesday, and the storm continued to travel through the Northeast into Thursday. Some areas have received as much as 2 feet of snow, leading to widespread closures and hazardous travel conditions.
On Thursday morning, Boston Logan called off 131 flights for the day, JFK called off 78, and Newark Liberty called off 123. This is in addition to the hundreds of flights that were cancelled in New England and the Mid Atlantic region on Wednesday.
The path and severity of the storm may change as it runs its course, so be prepared for more delays or cancellations. Airports and airlines are regularly updating their schedules to reflect recent changes.
This is another in a series of blows the airline industry has been dealt this year. The pandemic led to the shutdown of thousands of flights and smaller capacities for remaining flights.
Most airlines are offering waivers for their cancelled Wednesday and Thursday flights, so passengers should expect refunds or credits toward future flights. Travelers with nonrefundable tickets will not receive a refund unless their flight is cancelled.
Passengers should also keep in mind that rebooking options may be limited in the coming weeks and months, so they should reserve their seat as early as possible. There are fewer flights than usual due to the pandemic, and more travelers are changing their plans at the last minute.
Most airlines allow passengers to change their reservations online. Customer service lines may have long wait times in the next few days, so travelers who can access online booking should visit their airline’s website.