New York airports: Which airports are closed as historic snowstorm hits US - cancelling thousands of flights
A historic snowstorm has gripped the US, causing travel chaos and thousands of flights to be cancelled.
The snowstorm has claimed five lives in New York City alone over the weekend. The devastating weather has forced the cancellation of some 10,000 flights, with another 2,000 expected to be grounded today, leaving passengers stranded at airports across the nation, reports The Metro.
LaGuardia Airport, which handles more than 400 flights a day, was forced to close after being blanketed by heavy snow. The closure, reported by Fox Weather in the US, has contributed to what is considered one of the biggest flight cancellations in US history.
Recent status checks indicate it's operational again with scheduled arrivals and departures resuming, though passengers are warned to expect lingering delays, cancellations, and weather challenges. It reopened sometime late Sunday or overnight.
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) remains open but there are massive disruptions, with very high cancellation rates. Many flights were scrubbed through late Sunday, and it was described as nearly empty at times due to the storm.
But operations are continuing with some flights en route or scheduled. Newark Liberty International Airport was also heavily impacted, but it is still operating.
The five deaths in New York were confirmed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, though he did not specify if the deaths were weather-related. He said, "While we do not yet know their causes of death, there is no more powerful reminder of the danger of extreme cold and how vulnerable many of our neighbours are, especially homeless New Yorkers." As the historic snowstorm continues to plough through the US, the nation braces itself for more extreme weather, power outages, and potential loss of life.