Yesterday, a powerful winter storm bearing down on the Northeast disrupted air travel at New York's bustling LaGuardia International Airport, compelling the cancellation of around 160 flights. This constitutes roughly 15% of the airport's typical flight frequency. Spirit Airlines' Terminal A was particularly affected, but despite sustained long queues, there were no cancellations.
The disruption experienced at LaGuardia was a common aspect this weekend, with Boston's Logan Airport facing the brunt. According to FlightAware's misery map, Boston saw more than 500 flight cancellations under the weight of the severe weather. A ground stop was issued in Boston, where passengers experienced more than two hour average delays. The severity of the storm can be underscored by a flight attendant, who after enduring a daunting landing, referred to it as the worst in her 28-year-long career.
While there were similar reports of highly disrupted journeys from New York travellers, the primary concern for many became about making connections and retrieving checked luggage from the original flight. On ground, the weather deterioration was tangible. Broad flooding and 60 to 90 MPH wind gusts were reported in New York City and Massachusetts, while in Michigan, multiple accidents occurred on I-94 West of Kalamazoo, which saw 2 to 6 inches of lake effect snow.
In a significant development, A major airline company has been slapped with a record $140 million penalty for ruining the festive season for over 2 million stranded passengers last December. The transportation department states that the majority of the fine will be allocated to a compensation fund, capable of providing additional vouchers to passengers potentially stranded by the airline within the next three years.
In terms of operational improvements, data from October is an encouraging signal. The airlines saw their least disrupted month in terms of delays and cancellations since October 2019. Whether this trend can be sustained through the holiday season, predicted to be the busiest yet for the airports on record, remains to be seen. In the meantime, travellers are urged to be patient and prepared for possible delays.
