Thousands of flights cancelled in US winter storms
Winter storms in the north-east US are causing flights cancellations and delays.
Nearly 4,000 US flights were cancelled yesterday (Thursday) due to snow and strong winds as a storm known as a ‘bomb cyclone’ hit New York, Boston and other key cities in the US, as well as eastern Canada.
New York’s JFK Airport said flights were due to resume today at 7am (local time) but urged travellers to contact their airlines for information on resumption of specific flights before going to the airport.
Virgin Atlantic is allowing customers booked to New York to change the date of their flight at no extra charge. Travel must be completed on or before the January 12 and is subject to availability.
Norwegian Air is offering a free rebooking or refund to passengers with cancelled flights due to the bad weather.
A spokeswoman for British Airways said: "We’re very sorry that some of our customers’ travel plans have been affected by the heavy snow across the East Coast of the US.
"We’re doing everything we can to minimise the disruption and are advising customers to check ba.com for the latest information about their flights."
US railway operator Amtrak is running a reduced schedule.
The severe weather has led the Foreign Office to update its advice to UK travellers in, or heading to, the region.
The FCO updated its advice late on Thursday afternoon to say: "A powerful winter storm is currently affecting several states along the east coast of the USA; the resulting hazardous weather conditions have led to power outages and travel disruption in some areas, including delays and cancellations to flights.
"If you’re in the area or due to travel, you should monitor local media, follow the advice of the local authorities and check with your airline or transport provider before travelling to your point of departure."
Forecasters say New York City will get up to 10 inches of snow and, taking in the wind-chill factor, the weather will drop to -20C. A state of emergency has been declared in NYC and surrounding areas.
Blizzard-like conditions are set to hit a huge area of the east coast, from North Carolina to Maine, with New England expected to be one of the worst-hit areas. Boston is expected to get over 12 inches of snow.
The worst of the storm will be over by Saturday morning, but the cold weather will continue.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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