Airlines cancel over 1,400 US flights as ice storm hits multiple states

February 1

Airlines canceled over 1,400 flights in the United States on Wednesday, after an ice storm hit states from Texas to West Virginia.

A total of 1,467 flights within, into or out of the United States were cancelled, while 527 flights were delayed as of 6.48 am ET, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday warned in a tweet that travellers could expect to see some snowy conditions in certain areas including Dallas, Fort Worth and Memphis, which could delay certain flights.

“The ongoing winter storm will continue to bring hazardous impacts to North and Central Texas through at least early Thursday morning,” The US National Weather Service said in its Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area forecast discussion.

Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines Co led cancellations with 487 flights, while Fort Worth, Texas-based peer American Airlines Group Inc closely followed, canceling nearly 480 flights.

Southwest and American did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

The latest cancellations come nearly a month after Southwest faced US government backlash for cancelling 16,700 flights over the holidays, as it grappled with bad weather and outdated technology.