Hurricane jams up air travel across globe
Source: Agencies |
October 30, 2012, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HURRICANE Sandy grounded thousands of flights in the US northeast yesterday and upended travel plans across the globe, stranding passengers from Hong Kong to Europe. The massive storm threatens to bring a near halt to air travel for at least two days in a key region for both domestic and international flights.
Major carriers such as American Airlines, United and Delta canceled all flights into and out of three area airports in New York, the nation's busiest airspace. According to the flight-tracking service FlightAware, nearly 10,000 flights had been canceled for yesterday and today, most due to the storm.
Delays rippled across the US, affecting travelers in cities such as San Francisco to Chicago. Disruptions spread to Europe and Asia, where airlines canceled or delayed flights to New York and Washington from cities that are major travel hubs including London, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong.
About one-quarter of all US flights travel in or out of New York airports each day. So cancellations here can dramatically impact travel in other cities.
Businessman Alan Shrem was trying to return home to Boca Raton in the US state of Florida. His yesterday morning Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to New York's Kennedy airport was canceled.
He learned he could be stuck in Hong Kong for nearly a week because the next available seat was November 4. He was put on a waiting list. "They just say: Yeah, it's a pretty big waiting list," said Shrem, throwing up his hands. In the meantime, he'll have to fork out US$400 a night to continue staying at a nearby hotel. The airline won't pay for hotels for stranded passengers if delays are weather related.
Delta Air Lines has canceled 2,100 flights over the three days. American Airlines has scrapped 1,000 flights.
Major carriers such as American Airlines, United and Delta canceled all flights into and out of three area airports in New York, the nation's busiest airspace. According to the flight-tracking service FlightAware, nearly 10,000 flights had been canceled for yesterday and today, most due to the storm.
Delays rippled across the US, affecting travelers in cities such as San Francisco to Chicago. Disruptions spread to Europe and Asia, where airlines canceled or delayed flights to New York and Washington from cities that are major travel hubs including London, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong.
About one-quarter of all US flights travel in or out of New York airports each day. So cancellations here can dramatically impact travel in other cities.
Businessman Alan Shrem was trying to return home to Boca Raton in the US state of Florida. His yesterday morning Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to New York's Kennedy airport was canceled.
He learned he could be stuck in Hong Kong for nearly a week because the next available seat was November 4. He was put on a waiting list. "They just say: Yeah, it's a pretty big waiting list," said Shrem, throwing up his hands. In the meantime, he'll have to fork out US$400 a night to continue staying at a nearby hotel. The airline won't pay for hotels for stranded passengers if delays are weather related.
Delta Air Lines has canceled 2,100 flights over the three days. American Airlines has scrapped 1,000 flights.
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