Transatlantic flights disrupted as giant winter storm hits US

A giant winter storm across a large swathe of the US has thrown transatlantic flights into chaos.

 

More than 11,000 flights were cancelled within, into or out of the US on Sunday, including all flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, most flights at the Philadelphia International Airport. Airports serving New York City have also been badly affected by Winter Storm Fern.

 

Sunday will be considered one of the biggest weather-related flight cancellation days in US history, ABC News reported.

 

At least 2,500 flights were cancelled on Monday as "life threatening" conditions stretched from Texas to New England, according to the US National Weather Service (NWS).

 

Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said: “With severe winter weather forecast across parts of the USA including popular tourist destinations such as New York and Washington, DC, UK travellers planning to travel across the Atlantic over the coming days should be prepared for potentially significant disruption. 

 

“This includes flight delays or cancellations, airport congestion and possible ground transport issues. 

 

"With thousands of flights already cancelled, it’s vital that travellers closely monitor airline and airport updates, allow extra time for their journeys, and ensure they have appropriate contingency plans in place. 

 

“Travellers should also be mindful of extreme cold conditions, which can be dangerous, and make sure they are adequately prepared with suitable clothing and essentials to stay safe.”

 

Almost 20 Virgin Atlantic transatlantic services were grounded. The airline started cancelling flights on Saturday including services between Heathrow and New York JFK, Boston and Washington. Manchester flights to Atlanta were also affected.  

 

The airline said: “We’re closely monitoring Winter Storm Fern, which is forecast to bring severe weather conditions across the east coast of the USA from Saturday 24 to Monday 26 January. 

 

"To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew, we’re taking proactive steps to manage any disruption to our flying programme. As a result, some flights have been cancelled.

 

“Customers affected by these cancellations will be rebooked onto alternative travel options, and our teams are available to support with any immediate needs.

 

“Some flights to and from the east coast of the USA are currently still scheduled to operate between 24 and 26 January. However, local weather and airport conditions may still cause delays or disruption.”

 

British Airways said: “We are closely monitoring Storm Fern, which has brought severe weather conditions across the east coast of the USA. 

 

“Like other airlines, we are taking proactive steps to manage potential disruption to our operation and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our customers and colleagues. As a result, some flights have unfortunately been cancelled.

 

“Some flights to and from the east coast of the USA are currently still scheduled to operate between 25 and 26 January. “However, local weather and airport conditions may still cause delays or disruption.”

 

Virgin Atlantic’s US partner Delta Air Lines warned that flights may be impacted at Atlanta, Boston, Newark Liberty, New York JFK and New York LaGuardia.

 

Ice accumulation was expected to impact Delta’s Atlanta hub on Sunday along with “significant snowfall” in the northeast of the US from Sunday afternoon. 

 

Delta said: “As winter weather moves through affected areas of the country, Delta teams plan to resume operations as conditions improve and weather permits. 

 

“Flights at stations in the Ohio and Tennessee Valley regions began slowly resuming Sunday evening. 

 

“Below-freezing temperatures in Atlanta and lingering precipitation overnight at some airports in the northeast may impact flights Monday morning.” 

 

American Airlines took proactive action by repositioning aircraft, aligning crew resources and reinforcing staffing at key airports "while co-ordinating with our partners to help minimise disruption and set the stage for a fast, safe recovery once conditions improve”.

 

United Airlines said the winter weather was impacting operations in much of the US and waived flight change fees and fare differences until January 29.  

 

The US National Weather Service said in an update on Sunday: “The entire storm system will move off the east coast into the Atlantic on Monday.  

 

“Arctic air will then rush in behind the storm system and bringbitterly cold temperatures for much of the eastern two-thirds of the country for the next couple of days.  

 

“In fact, below freezing temperatures will penetrate south of Brownsville, Texas Monday morning, along with below zero readings across the Texas Panhandle and into Oklahoma.  

 

“These bitterly cold temperatures will be at record-breaking levels across the entire southern Plains. In addition, brisk northerly winds will produce dangerously cold wind chills.  

 

“More record cold temperatures are expected across the southern Plains into the lower Mississippi Valley Tuesday morning as low temperatures dips into the single digits across the interior mid-Atlantic, which will challenge some records.”

 

At least 20 states declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Washington DC also declared a state of emergency.