US flight cancellations ease as operations recover after winter storm

Air travel in the United States is stabilizing after a winter storm, with about 1,300 cancellations reported as of 6:20 a.m. ET on Tuesday. Dallas‑Fort Worth logged 276 cancellations and Charlotte Douglas 138. Monday saw 6,250 cancellations by day’s end, following 11,618 on Sunday, described as the highest single-day total since March 2020. The Department of Transportation expects schedules to normalize by Wednesday. American, United, and Delta introduced fee waivers, while American reported over 1,900 cancellations on Sunday amid disruptions at multiple hubs.

Air travel in the United States is recovering following a winter storm that caused widespread disruption. As of 6:20 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, roughly 1,300 flights within, into, or out of the country were canceled, a clear improvement from earlier in the week. Dallas‑Fort Worth International Airport recorded 276 cancellations, with Charlotte Douglas reporting 138.

The latest figures follow significantly higher cancellation totals on preceding days. On Monday morning, around 4,000 flights were already grounded, and by the end of the day cancellations rose to 6,250. Sunday was the worst day of the period, with 11,618 cancellations, which Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described as the highest single-day total since March 2020. The Department of Transportation expects flight operations to return to normal by Wednesday.

According to Secretary Duffy, the storm combined ice, snow, and a subsequent cold snap, intensifying operational impacts. Challenging road conditions also prevented some airport and airline staff from reaching worksites, adding to the disruption.

American Airlines was among the most affected carriers, with more than 1,900 flights canceled on Sunday alone. Five of its nine hubs, including its largest at Dallas‑Fort Worth, were significantly impacted amid record-setting weather. Disruptions were particularly acute in regions less accustomed to extreme winter conditions, where infrastructure limitations contributed to staffing challenges as employees, vendors, and federal partners contended with unsafe roads.

Several airlines introduced fee waivers to give customers more flexibility. American Airlines extended its waiver through Thursday, United Airlines’ waiver remains in effect through Wednesday, and Delta Air Lines’ waiver covers Tuesday.

With cancellations continuing to decline and relief measures in place, the outlook is for a gradual restoration of normal service, with a return to regular schedules anticipated by Wednesday.