Post-Thanksgiving Storm Grounds 2,500 Flights, Airlines Offer Waivers
This year’s Thanksgiving travel faced significant disruptions due to a powerful storm affecting the upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions. Airlines canceled nearly 2,000 flights on Saturday and continued to report cancellations into Sunday as inclement weather conditions persisted.
Impact on Flights
According to FlightAware, the total flight cancellations for Saturday reached 1,974. Major airports in Chicago, particularly Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), experienced the most significant disruptions. At ORD, about 50% of scheduled flights were canceled, while MDW saw cancellations of around 40% on Saturday.
As the storm continued into Sunday, an additional 490 flights were grounded, and over 1,800 experienced delays as of 9:30 a.m. EST. Many cancellations on Sunday were carryovers from the previous day, with at least 300 flights affected by Saturday evening. However, conditions began to improve, resulting in a notable decrease in cancellations.
- O’Hare Airport: Cancellations reduced to approximately 6% of scheduled flights on Sunday.
- Eastern Iowa Airport (CID): Only seven departures canceled, a significant improvement from 60% canceled on Saturday.
Airports Affected
Several other airports throughout the Midwest experienced disruptions due to the winter storm. The list includes:
- St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
- Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Nebraska
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) in Iowa
- Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB)
- Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) in Madison, Wisconsin
- Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) in Traverse City, Michigan
- Quad Cities International Airport (MLI) near Davenport, Iowa
- South Bend International Airport (SBN) in Indiana
- Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) in Indiana
- General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA) in Illinois
- Waterloo Regional Airport (ALO) in Iowa
Airline Response
In light of these disruptions, major airlines implemented flexible rebooking policies. This measure aimed to assist travelers affected by the weather conditions. Airlines such as American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Sun Country, and United released waivers for passengers.
Looking Ahead
Although the storm moved eastward, lingering travel disruptions were still expected Sunday. Travelers are encouraged to check flight statuses before heading to the airport. Conditions improved as the storm system departed, yet caution remains necessary as parts of Pennsylvania and upstate New York may experience travel challenges.
As the busy post-Thanksgiving travel period continues, staying informed about flight changes is crucial for all passengers.
