More than 7,000 flights have been canceled in the US since Monday amid a powerful winter storm battering the US Northeast, from Maryland to Maine.
According to FlightAware, at least 2,100 flights were canceled on Tuesday, while more than 5,700 were canceled on Monday.
In addition, flight delays and cancellations are expected to continue for several days as the winter storm rages on.
Other transport services were also affected, disrupting travel across much of the country.
Here are things you should know if you’re traveling this week.
Which airports were hit the hardest?
The winter storm, which prompted blizzard warnings for many parts of the US, dumped 19.8 to 27 inches of snow on New York’s three major airports, The New York Times reported.
The storm also dumped 14.4 inches of snow at Boston Logan International Airport and a whopping 38 inches at TF Green International Airport, which serves Providence, Rhode Island.
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Due to the situation, nearly half of all departures and a third of all arrivals at John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports were canceled on Tuesday.
Early Wednesday morning looked better for travel, the NYT reported, explaining that the expected flight cancellations for the day were in the dozens rather than the hundreds.
What did the airlines say?
All major US airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United, have issued travel advisories for this week.
They also announced a travel waiver to allow passengers to change flights without charge.
Each airline has listed cities where service may be disrupted, and people traveling this week are advised to check the status of their flights with their respective airlines.
Train and bus transport is also affected
In several parts of the US, not only flights, but also rail and bus services were affected.
The NYT reported that Amtrak still had not restored full service on its Northeast Corridor, adding that there were multiple cancellations between Washington and Boston on Tuesday.
However, trains appeared to be largely on schedule Wednesday, with Amtrak saying customers on affected routes will be “directly notified of any cancellations or adjustments.”
Read also | Big Blizzard in US Northeast: Great Lakes, Ohio Valley brace for more snow
Bus service by Greyhound, FlixBus and Megabus was disrupted on Tuesday, according to the NYT, mainly in New York and Boston.
However, regular services were restored early on Wednesday, with bus operators saying they would notify passengers via SMS or email if there were further disruptions.
What to do if you get stuck?
With travel disruptions likely to take days to fully resolve, travelers may be stranded.
If you find yourself in this situation, here are things you should know:
– Airlines generally offer compensation when disruptions are within their control. As the current disruptions are weather-related, stranded passengers should not expect airlines to cover food or accommodation costs.
— Passengers are advised to download their airline’s app for timely updates. In addition to updates, flyers can also use apps to rebook flights without standing in long customer service lines.
— Travelers are also encouraged to check FlightAware for the latest updates on delays and cancellations at major U.S. airports.
— Those traveling by train or bus are also advised to check with operators for service status.
— People traveling on the road are advised to keep a close eye on current weather and dangerous driving conditions.
