As Winter Storm Orlena makes its way across the northeast United States, airlines and airports in the region are busy canceling hundreds of flights and bracing for a torrid few days. But it isn’t just the airports along the east coast impacted. Orlena is making her presence felt far and wide. It’s shaping up as a chaotic time for travelers ticketed to fly over the next few days.
After wreaking havoc at midwestern airports over the weekend, Winter Storm Orlena is moving over the northeast and causing similar problems.
Chicago’s O’Hare Airport gets a blast from Orlena
Chicago’s O’Hare Airport was in Orlena’s firing line over the weekend. On Sunday, 692 flights were due to land at O’Hare. But 166 of those flights were canceled and 222 delayed. Just over 700 flights were due to take off from O’Hare on Sunday. However, 141 of those flights were canceled and 220 delayed. Things at O’Hare should improve substantially on Monday when Orlena turns her attention to the east coast.
On Monday, airports along the east coast will see hundreds of flights canceled and delayed. The worst impacted so far are the airports around New York. At the time of publication, 74% of all flights into New York’s JFK were canceled on Monday, and 66% of scheduled departures were canceled.
[1:48 PM 1/31/2021] We’re finally getting towards the end here with just intermittent light snow away from the lake. Lake-enhanced bursts of heavier snow will continue for a bit longer across NE IL and NW IN, with snowfall tapering there into this evening. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/vo9gDwIdhg
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 31, 2021
Orlena moves her attention to east coast airports
At Newark and LaGuardia, the inbound cancelations over Monday number 146 and 100, respectively. If you plan to fly out from either airport, you’d best call your airline as 173 departures are already canceled over Monday from Newark. At LaGuardia, 80 departures are canceled at the time of publication.
Boston’s Logan Airport, Reagan National, and Dulles outside Washington D.C., Baltimore/Washington International, and Philadelphia International will see substantial delays and cancelations over Monday. This has ripple effects across the entire United States domestic network, with airports as far away as Florida, Texas, and California all reporting higher than normal cancelations and delays. At San Francisco International, 10 inbound and 10 outbound flights on Monday are already canceled.
Fifty-eight (or 34%) of all inbound flights to Baltimore/Washington International Airport are canceled on Monday. Thirty-five (or 20%) of outbound flights from the same airport are now canceled. Boston’s Logan Airport also sees high numbers of cancelations slated for Monday. Inbound, 34% of flights are canceled. Outbound, 39% of departures are canceled.
Boston’s Logan Airport is advising travelers to check with their airline on their flight status and allow extra time to move through the airport.
Passenger Advisory: due to winter weather on Monday, passengers are advised to check with their airline on the status of their flight. Please allow extra time to get to and from Boston Logan. For flight info: https://t.co/4r3Z1DrjaL pic.twitter.com/ad55OoMheV
— Boston Logan International Airport (@BostonLogan) January 31, 2021
It’s a message most other airports are repeating. Newark Airport is telling travelers around 70% of Monday’s flights there are canceled. To complicate things further, New Jersey Transit buses, rail (except the Atlantic City Rail Line), light rail, and the Access Link service will be temporarily suspended systemwide on Monday. Philadephia International Airport is posting pictures of snow ploughs blasting snow off their runways and also requests passengers to contact their airline.
Snow is headed to the Philadelphia region. Planning to fly to or from #PHLAirport? Check with your airline to see the impact the storm might have on your flight. pic.twitter.com/hC9sxdbSL8
— PHLAirport (@PHLAirport) January 31, 2021
Meanwhile, United States-based airlines are putting their standard bad weather waivers into place. These allow travelers to defer travel and change flights without penalty. Terms and conditions do vary between airlines, and you should contact your airline before departure time to sort your upcoming travel out.
Has Winter Storm Orlena thrown your travel plans into disarray? Post a comment and let us know.