Due to winter storm, 2,000 US Flights Cancelled

Ahead Of Christmas Holidays…

Washington: Ahead of Christmas holidays, On Thursday, more than 2,270 US flights were cancelled due to heavy snow and freezing temperatures, reported CNN.

Snow, rain, ice, wind and frigid temperatures are affecting air travel plans across the United States and bus and Amtrak passenger train service too.

Airlines cancelled over 2,270 US flights by 6 ET pm on Thursday and cancelled almost 1,000 flights for Friday as well, according to the flight tracking site FlightAware.

85 flights were already cancelled for the weekend. Delays were even more extensive on Thursday: More than 7,400 as of 6 pm, reported CNN.

The impacts are being felt in Chicago and Denver, where around a quarter of arrivals and departures -- hundreds of flights at each airport -- were cancelled on Thursday, FlightAware data showcased.

At one point on Thursday, at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, delays averaging 159 minutes -- almost three hours -- were being caused by snow and ice, according to a notice from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Temperatures at the O'Hare dropped to 9 degrees (-13 Celsius) around 5 p.m. local time. The National Weather Service reported snow and freezing fog.

The FAA said departing aircraft at Dallas Love, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver and Minneapolis airports require spraying of de-icing fluid for safe travel, reported CNN.

Meanwhile, many airlines have issued weather waivers allowing travellers to change their itineraries without penalty during a short window.

For those whose flights are still scheduled, the Transportation Security Administration is recommending that passengers arrive at the airport earlier than the usual time, reported CNN.