Airlines cancel hundreds of flights as powerful winter storm hits U.S.

Airlines are cancelling flights ahead of a powerful winter storm expected to bring heavy snow, ice, sleet, and bitter cold across large swaths of the United States from Jan. 23 into the weekend.

Forecasters say the storm could affect more than half of the U.S. population, with treacherous road conditions and flight disruptions possible as it moves from Texas to the Northeast.

More than 400 U.S. flights have been cancelled on Jan. 23, with over 1,300 more cancellations scheduled for Jan. 24, according to flight tracker FlightAware.

The biggest Saturday impacts were concentrated in North Texas.

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport accounted for 900 cancelled flights, while Dallas Love Field had 139 cancellations — each roughly about half of the day's schedule.

Airlines often cancel flights in advance of major storms to avoid having planes, passengers, and crews stranded in the wrong places, which can worsen recovery once severe weather clears.

Multiple U.S. carriers, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Alaska Airlines, are waiving change and cancellation fees and fare differences for travel through major hubs such as Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington. 

The waivers apply to travel to and from more than 40 airports and include basic economy tickets. 

In Canada, Air Canada has implemented flexible ticketing for flights to eight U.S. cities affected by the storm: Dallas, Nashville, Raleigh Durham, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Cleveland and Washington. 

The policy covers travel from Jan. 23 through Jan. 26. Full details are available on Air Canada's website.

WestJet is waiving change fees for flights to Atlanta and Houston during the January 24-26 period. 

Details on the one-time fee waiver are available on WestJet's website.

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