US airways challenge journey waivers as winter storm threatens widespread disruptions

NEW YORK, Jan 22 (Reuters) – U.S. airways have rolled out sweeping journey waivers as a winter storm, forecast to unfold heavy snow, sleet and harmful ice throughout two dozen states, threatened to disrupt air journey throughout a large swath of the nation heading into the weekend.

The National Weather Service has warned that the combo of freezing rain, sleet and snow might make journey harmful and result in energy outages and tree harm in components of the Southeast, whereas heavier snow is predicted farther north. The winter storm is predicted to carry chilly temperatures not seen since 2021, in accordance with AccuWeather, a climate forecasting firm.

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Carriers stated the combo of ice, snow and robust winds might sluggish airport operations, ripple into delays and cancellations, and complicate rebooking throughout one of many busier winter journey durations.

“This will likely result in thousands of flight cancellations on Saturday, Sunday and Monday,” stated Dan DePodwin, vp of forecasting operations at AccuWeather. Travel reserving app Hopper estimates that upwards of 15,000 flights may very well be delayed because of the storm.

MAJOR AIRLINES OFFER FLEXIBLE REBOOKING OPTIONS

Airlines urged vacationers to watch flight standing intently and use cellular apps and airline web sites for the quickest rebooking choices because the storm advances. Travelers have already began to arrange for journey disruptions.

Hopper stated it has seen a 17% enhance in vacationers including Disruption Assistance to journeys for this upcoming weekend.

“Even in locations far away from the storm, such as the West Coast hubs, Denver, Chicago and Minneapolis, ripple effects of this widespread travel-halting winter storm will be felt,” stated DePodwin.

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