A significant winter storm has set the stage for a brutal travel day across the United States, prompting airlines to issue warnings about widespread cancellations and delays.The storm, affecting nearly 180 million people, is traversing a path from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England, bringing snow, sleet, and freezing rain that threatens major travel routes.
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bangordailynews.comyahoo.comAs of Sunday, more than 13,500 flights have been canceled nationwide since the storm began, with approximately 9,600 cancellations occurring on just that day alone, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.
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wgcu.orgpeopledaily.digitalThis event marks the highest cancellation rate since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, accounting for over 29% of all US departing flights.
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bangordailynews.compeopledaily.digitalAirports in the Northeast, particularly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, reported severe disruptions.Nearly all of its 414 scheduled departing flights were canceled, amounting to 97% of its operations for the day.
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yahoo.comSignificant cancellations were also noted at major hubs like LaGuardia Airport in New York, which grounded about 91% of its flights, and Philadelphia International Airport, where 94% of scheduled flights were also canceled.
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wgcu.orgyahoo.comTravelers at other key airports, including New York's John F.Kennedy International Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, faced similar challenges.American Airlines alone canceled over 1,400 flights, representing 55% of its schedule for Sunday, while Delta and Southwest Airlines each reported around 1,000 cancellations.
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bangordailynews.compeopledaily.digitalThe storm's impact is not limited to the affected areas; cascading delays are expected to ripple through the aviation network.Vikrant Vaze, a commercial aviation logistics expert, noted that recovery from these disruptions will likely take days, with the extent of the impact depending on each airline's network and capacity to manage the fallout.
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wgcu.orgyahoo.comFor travelers whose flights have been canceled, the advice is to either contact airline customer service directly at the airport or through online channels if they are at home.Most airlines will rebook passengers on later flights at no additional charge, contingent on seat availability.
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apnews.compeopledaily.digitalHowever, it is important to note that airlines are not obligated to book customers on flights with other carriers, though some may offer this as a courtesy.
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bangordailynews.comyahoo.comAdditionally, if travelers no longer wish to travel due to cancellations, airlines are legally required to issue full refunds, even for non-refundable tickets.This includes refunds for any additional fees for services that were not rendered due to the cancellation.
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bangordailynews.comapnews.comAs the storm continues to unfold, travelers are advised to stay updated on their flight status and be prepared for potential delays and further cancellations in the coming days.
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yahoo.compeopledaily.digitalAuthorities and airline officials are closely monitoring the situation, hoping to mitigate the storm's impact on travel as it progresses across the eastern United States.Meanwhile, travelers are encouraged to remain patient and flexible as they navigate these significant disruptions in their travel plans.
