Storm cancels 3,000+ U.S. flights; airlines activate flexible rebooking policies

A powerful winter storm moving into the U.S. Northeast on Monday (March 16) has already triggered thousands of flight cancellations, while long security lines linked to a funding lapse at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are adding to travel disruptions.

Airlines began trimming schedules ahead of the storm, with delays and cancellations mounting as heavy snow, strong winds and poor visibility spread across the region. 

By 11 a.m. EST, more than 3,200 flights within, into or out of the United States had been cancelled, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport, New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport are among the airports experiencing the highest number of disruptions, with O'Hare reporting over 1,000 cancellations in the the last 24 hours and LaGuardia and Charlotte each reporting over 100 cancellations.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also warned travellers on X about the “major storm today impacting flights nationwide.” 

At the same time, travellers are encountering unusually long waits at airport security checkpoints. 

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been dealing with staffing shortages tied to a funding lapse affecting the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency.

Travellers are being advised to arrive earlier than usual, as airlines are not required to refund tickets if a passenger misses a flight due to airport delays outside the airline’s control.

Air Canada is warning that severe weather could lead to delays or cancellations at more than a dozen U.S. airports. 

The airline has also revised its ticketing policy, allowing customers travelling on affected flights to make changes without penalty, space permitting.

Porter Airlines has also issued travel alerts for numerous U.S. airports, noting that flights may be disrupted by high winds or thunderstorms.

Separate advisories say flights via Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and Timmins may also be affected by snowstorm or freezing-rain conditions. 

Passengers are being advised to check My Bookings to see whether their itinerary qualifies for free changes.

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