Flight cancellations today top 11,000 amid winter storm, the most in a single day since COVID pandemic

Flight cancellations mounted Sunday as the U.S. was hit with dangerous winter weather from a storm that moved across the country.

Airlines canceled more than 11,000 U.S. flights for Sunday, according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware.com. That’s the most for a single day since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and almost triple the number of U.S. flights that were canceled for Saturday. 

The National Weather Service says the storm brought widespread heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain from the Southern Rockies to New England.

More than 3,500 U.S. flights have already been canceled for Monday. 

In the Washington, D.C., area, Ronald Reagan National Airport said all flights there were canceled on Sunday, posting: “ALERT: Airlines have canceled all flights at the airport today. Check with your airline for confirmation and rebooking options. Please stay home and off the icy roads.”

LaGuardia Airport in New York also closed due to the snow Sunday afternoon and said it expected to reopen at 6 a.m. Monday. More than 90% of LaGuardia’s flights had already been canceled, CBS News New York reported.

Even before the winter storm arrived in North Texas, flight cancellations at both major airports there piled up. Dallas Fort Worth international Airport said airlines were expected to operate a reduced number of flights Sunday and encouraged passengers to check their flight status with their airline as schedules could change. 

“DFW’s teams are actively treating roads, bridges and airfield surfaces to maintain safe operations,” it said in a statement.

Airports in Atlanta, Charlotte and Philadelphia were also expecting disruptions. 

Flight tracking service Flightradar24 said American was the most impacted airline this weekend, followed by United and Delta. 

Major U.S. airlines were issuing travel waivers, allowing customers to change their plans without penalty due to the storm.