(CNN) — Winter weather continues to disrupt holiday travel across the United States on Friday, leaving travelers facing delays and cancellations during one of the busiest times of the year.
Cancellations are highest at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, New York’s LaGuardia and in Chicago and Detroit, according to FlightAware data.
The FAA noted early Friday it may have to halt or restrict traffic at airports in the Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington areas.
Airports in Chicago and Denver saw the bulk of cancellations and delays on Thursday. Chicago O’Hare International Airport was logging average delays Thursday of almost three hours due to snow and ice.
The growing cancellations make it harder for passengers racing against the clock and weather to rebook and arrive in time for Christmas. Flights this year were already more crowded than they’ve been previously — even before the storm disrupted travel schedules.
“We hear about how travel volume is still down, five or ten percent, but what many folks might not have realized is that the number of flights in the sky is actually down more like 15 or 20 percent,” Scott Keyes of Scott’s Cheap Flights told CNN.
“The planes that are actually flying are more full today than they were pre-pandemic. That’s why there’s not as many empty seats to switch onto if you do find your flight gets canceled or delayed,” Keyes said.
Train and bus service hit, too
Amtrak has also been forced to delay or cancel passenger service for some lines in the Midwest and Northeast.
In its notice, Amtrak said “customers with reservations on trains that are being modified will typically be accommodated on trains with similar departure times or another day.
“Amtrak will waive additional charges for customers looking to change their reservation during the modified schedule by calling our reservation center at 1-800-USA-RAIL.”
Meanwhile Greyhound, the largest provider of intercity bus service, issued a service alert Thursday evening indicating that trips in the Midwest or upper Northeast may be canceled or disrupted.
Greyhound said riders can call 1-833-233-8507 to reschedule.
Winter weather is also impacting the services of regional intercity bus company Jefferson Lines, which operates in 14 states.
Top image: Travelers arrive for their flights at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on December 22, 2022. Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty Images
Pete Muntean, Gregory Wallace, Rebekah Riess, Danielle Sills, Marnie Hunter, Ross Levitt, Dave Hennen, Paul P. Murphy and Carol Alvarado contributed to this report.
