On Wednesday, airlines canceled approximately 2,000 flights across the U.S. as a severe winter storm caused icy road conditions and power outages in parts of Texas. Federal forecasters have predicted worsening weather conditions.
At Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, American Airlines canceled over 1,300 flights, which represents about 75% of the airport’s operations, according to FlightAware.
The airline made these cancellations proactively due to the hazardous weather, which not only affects flight safety but also complicates transportation for passengers and staff trying to reach the airport.
Southwest Airlines also saw significant disruptions, with over 380 flights canceled at Dallas Love Field, affecting roughly 70% of the airport’s schedule. Additionally, more than 40% of flights were canceled at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Icy roads and power outages lead to more than 2,000 flight cancellations nationwide, with significant disruptions at Dallas Love Field and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for the Dallas-Fort Worth area and other Texas regions until 9 a.m. CT on Thursday, warning that travel conditions will continue to deteriorate and could become nearly impossible through Wednesday night.
On Tuesday, nearly 2,000 flights were canceled, and the Federal Aviation Administration has slowed arrivals at both major Texas airports.
To assist affected travelers, airlines have waived fees or fare differences for those rebooking flights for early February. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has also advised travelers about hazardous road conditions and potential airport closures.
On Monday, airlines had already canceled over 1,100 flights, marking the highest percentage of cancellations since the year-end holidays.