Severe weather wreaked havoc on air travel across the U.S. on Saturday, with thousands of flights delayed or canceled, creating chaos for post-holiday travelers.
According to FlightAware, over 9,000 flights nationwide faced delays, and more than 300 were canceled by evening. Major hubs like Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW), George Bush Intercontinental in Houston, and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson reported widespread delays, with approximately half of their flights affected. At New York’s JFK, average delays exceeded two hours.
Weather disruptions spanned multiple regions. Heavy rain and snow warnings blanketed the western United States, while the South faced severe storms, including tornadoes in Houston that left one dead and four injured. The Northeast braced for an advancing storm system with rain and snow.
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Travel out of Texas proved especially challenging. DFW, a key American Airlines hub, grappled with weather-related issues and lingering technical glitches from earlier in the week. At DFW, rain and lightning accompanied long lines as travelers scrambled to reschedule flights. The Dallas Love Field Airport saw over half of Southwest Airlines flights delayed. In Houston, a United Airlines ground stop compounded the chaos. Passengers expressed frustration with the disruptions. Regina Esquivel, stuck for four hours on the tarmac in Houston, lamented the lack of snacks or drinks, calling the experience “insane.”
Ashley Allen, en route to Fort Myers, Fla., found herself stranded in Dallas after her connecting flight was canceled. Despite rebooking, delays left her stranded, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the day’s travel woes. By late morning, normal operations resumed at DFW, but the day’s turmoil left many passengers exasperated.
Organizing holiday travel plans is already enough to worry about, but the new unfortunate weather makes it even more troubling and inconvenient.