Massive Cancellations and Delays at Chicago Airports

UPDATED: 4:55 p.m.

CHICAGO, IL — More than 1,300 flights in and out of O’Hare and Midway and have been cancelled in the past 24 hours as the massive storm sweeping across the Midwest and the South wreaks havoc on air travel.

Delays are affecting more than 700 flights arriving at and departing from O’Hare and Midway, the Chicago Department of Aviation reports. O’Hare is the nation’s second busiest airport. About one-third of the day’s scheduled flights have already been cancelled or delayed by the weather.

A typical travel day in the country sees about 150 flight cancelations.

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Reports the Skift travel news website:

Monday’s travel disruptions compounded the woe for U.S. fliers who suffered through almost 6,500 delays and more than 1,600 cancellations on Sunday, based on FlightAware data. Trade group Airlines for America had predicted the day would be the third-busiest of the Christmas-holiday season, behind Jan. 3 and Dec. 18.

The Chicago area remains under a Winter Storm Warning. Heavy rain and strong winds forecast for Illinois and parts of Missouri and Arkansas on Monday are often more troubling for airlines than snowfall. Wind gusts in Illinois could exceed 50 mph this afternoon. The freezing rain and sleet could give way to rain by 3 p.m. today.

Many airlines are waiving rebooking fees due to the weather’s impact on cancellations and delays, USAToday reports.

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