Flight cancellations near 2,000, now extend into Sunday as storm disrupts Thanksgiving return
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, air travel has hit a significant snag due to a powerful winter storm sweeping through the upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Over the weekend, airlines canceled nearly 2,000 flights, with a staggering 1,772 cancellations reported on Saturday alone, according to FlightAware. The storm is expected to deliver up to a foot of snow in some areas, prompting airlines to proactively cancel flights to mitigate the impact on travelers. This disruption comes at a time when air travel is anticipated to reach record levels, making the situation even more frustrating for thousands of passengers eager to reunite with family and friends for the holiday.
The hardest-hit airports included Chicago O’Hare International (ORD), which saw more than 1,100 flight cancellations—over 40% of its schedule for Saturday. Chicago Midway (MDW) and Milwaukee Mitchell International (MKE) also faced significant disruptions, with cancellations affecting a large portion of their operations. Other airports across Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri experienced similar issues, with more than half of the scheduled flights at Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) being grounded. As the storm progresses, airlines like American, Delta, and Southwest have implemented flexible rebooking policies for affected passengers, allowing them to adjust their travel plans without incurring additional fees. Travelers are advised to check flight statuses before heading to the airport, as the storm’s impact could extend into Sunday and beyond.
While the storm is expected to move eastward, leaving most major air hubs behind, residual cancellations and delays may still affect operations in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. As air travel remains one of the busiest during this holiday season, it is essential for passengers to stay informed and prepared. The combination of a potent winter storm and peak travel times has created a perfect storm of challenges for holiday travelers, underscoring the importance of flexibility and proactive planning when navigating the skies during this busy season.
This year’s Thanksgiving air travel has finally hit a hitch.
Airlines canceled more than nearly 2,000 flights on Saturday and Sunday, rolling out weather waivers as a potent storm swept through the upper Midwest and Great Lakes. The system was forecast to bring up to a foot of snow or more to much of the region, with airlines now preemptively canceling flights into Sunday.
The disturbance — which comes after a calm run-up to Thanksgiving — has disrupted the plans of thousands of travelers during the second half of what’s expected to be one of the busiest Thanksgivings ever for air travel.
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Airlines had canceled 1,772 flights on Saturday and delayed another 6,488 as of 7:50 p.m. EDT,
according to flight-tracking service FlightAware
. For Sunday, another 217 flights had already been canceled.
JIM VONDRUSKA/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES
Hundreds of those were preemptively canceled by Friday evening in anticipation of the storm, with about 80 flights already grounded for Sunday.
For Saturday, the hardest-hit major airports were those serving Chicago and Milwaukee, though significant cancellations were being reported at a number of airports across Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri.
At Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), more than 1,100 combined departures and arrivals had been canceled — more than 40% of Saturday’s entire schedule. About 240 — close to 35% of the day’s schedule — were canceled across town at Chicago Midway Airport (MDW). To the north, about a third of Saturday’s flights had been canceled at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE).
At Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) near Cedar Rapids, more than half the day’s schedule had been canceled. In Madison, Wisconsin, about a quarter of flights had been scrapped at Dane County Regional Airport (MSN). It was a similar story at Des Moines International Airport (DSM) in Iowa, which also saw cancellations top 30%.
Among other airports seeing significant winter-weather disruptions on Saturday were:
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Omaha’s Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Nebraska
Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB)
Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Michigan (TVC)
Quad Cities International Airport near Davenport, Iowa (MLI)
South Bend International Airport in South Bend, Indiana (SBN)
Fort Wayne International Airport in Indiana (FWA)
General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport in Illinois (PIA)
Waterloo Regional Airport in Iowa (ALO)
By Sunday, the system was expected to move to the east and away from most major air hubs — though road travel could be a problem across parts of Pennsylvania and upstate New York.
Additionally, residual flight cancellations could linger across the Midwest and Great Lakes as carriers reset their operations there.
Most major airlines had rolled out flexible rebooking policies for passengers affected by the storm and scheduled to fly through the region.
STORM WAIVERS:
American
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Delta
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Frontier
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Southwest
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Sun Country
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United
Travelers scheduled to fly on Saturday or Sunday should check ahead on the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
Check back for updates.
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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
