Hurricane Sandy may be striking the northeastern United States, but its effects, in the form of canceled flights and stranded passengers, is being felt across the country.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the center of the hurricane is scheduled to make landfall along the southern New Jersey coast Monday night, bringing damaging wind and rain. The National Hurricane Center also reports that tropical storm force winds are expected to be felt from as far south as North Carolina to as far north as Massachusetts.
Airports across the country are experiencing cancellations and delays. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which oversees Washington Dulles (IAD) and Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) airports, has already announced the cancellation of many flights. Other airports such as George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and Houston Hobby (HOU) have taken to Twitter accounts to announce cancellations. The western portion of the United States may not be affected by the storm’s wind and rain, but that does not mean it has escaped its share of cancelled flights. Bob Hope Airport (BUR) in Burbank, Calif. has scrapped air travel to John F. Kennedy International (JFK), while Los Angeles International (LAX), has reported 129 cancelled flights.
Airlines, meanwhile, are doing their best to keep travelers current on the developing situation. JetBlue has announced on its website that travelers flying to impacted cities such as New York, Washington, Virginia and Boston will have change/cancel fees waived, and are asked to check the status of their flights. American Airlines has also posted on its website a list of affected airports for flyers traveling to, through or from.
ARN will be following this story as it develops.
