Traffic is moving along Interstate 30 after a snowstorm on February 15, 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Ron Jenkins | Getty Images
Airlines have canceled more than 4,000 flights in Texas since Monday because an unusual winter storm that caused snow, ice and record cold temperatures hit the state, causing dangerous road conditions and hitting power up to millions.
Nearly 900 flights to and from Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport, the largest hub of American Airlines, were canceled on Tuesday, more than half of the schedule. Nearly 1,000 flights were canceled there on Monday when the storm hit at the end of President’s Day weekend.
American was deploying airport staff at airport hotels to prevent commuting problems.
The DFW flight issues are related to the weather, but our teams are also having trouble getting to the airport. For crew we are covered, but there may be delays if the crew gets in place. For members of the airport team, our hotel rooms are getting closer to the airport, but hotel rooms are limited in the area, given the greater power issues.
George Bush Intercontinental / Houston Airport, a major hub of United Airlines and the city of William P. Hobby Airport, a hub of Southwest Airlines, said they will remain closed until 4 p.m.
More than 100 flights to and from Chicago were also canceled on Tuesday after the region received more snow.
Airline schedules have been drastically reduced due to the pandemic, but the storm struck after airline providers saw a huge demand for the long weekend. The Transportation Security Administration’s daily U.S. airport performances reached $ 1 million on Thursday and Friday for the first time since early January.
Southwest Airlines said on Tuesday that it has registered an increase in demand for leisure travel since January, although it is still 65% and 70% below the 2019 level, slightly better than a previous forecast.
“We suspect the flight cancellations and delays will have a small financial impact,” Cowen air analyst Helane Becker said in a note.