Snow cancels LaGuardia flights

Airlines issue waivers as region braces for storm

Airlines have issued travel waivers for Monday and Tuesday as snow pounds the mid- Atlantic and Northeast and cities along the densely populated I- 95 corridor brace for record snowfall that could pile up to 2 feet in some areas.

The snow led New York’s LaGuardia Airport to shut down for the day, canceling all 200+ commercial flights for Monday. Officials at JFK tweeted that airport has canceled 83% of Monday’s schedule – upward of 300 flights – and expects that number to keep climbing. The snow has also hampered its AirTrain service, forcing the airport to provide shuttle buses between terminals.

As of 2 p. m. EST, above- ground subway service had also been suspended in New York, though belowground trains continued to operate.

In New York and New Jersey, many COVID- 19 vaccination appointments for Monday were canceled because of the storm.

Blizzard conditions are possible in some areas of the Northeast “because the winds are going to be so strong in

addition to the heavy snowfall,” AccuWeather meteorologist Brett Rosio said. “Driving will certainly be dangerous, it is not recommended.”

The National Weather Service also forecast that winds could gust between 35 to 50 mph, reducing visibility with drifting snow and leading to danger of falling tree branches and power lines.

In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy has declared a state of emergency, shutting down all transit hubs and six vaccine megasites for Monday.

In order to keep passengers and planes from being stranded, most major airlines issued waivers through Tuesday, though the travel period depends on the city.

According to FlightAware, at least 1,640 flights had been canceled for Monday with about another 440 scrubbed for Tuesday.

American Airlines

Destinations covered: 28 cities are covered through Tuesday, including all Washington and New York metro area airports, as well as cities as far north as Portland, Maine and as far inland as Pittsburgh.

Delta Air Lines

Destinations covered: 15 destinations are covered through Tuesday, from Washington Dulles International up to New York JFK.

JetBlue Airways

Destinations covered: The New York and Boston areas are covered through Tuesday.

Southwest Airlines

Destinations covered: Philadelphia and New York are covered through Tuesday.

United Airlines

Destinations covered: The following cities are covered through Tuesday: New York; Boston; Providence, Rhode Island; and Portland, Maine.