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Superstorm Sandy: 3,000 flights cancelled today to bring total to 20,000

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The JFK and Newark openings are good news, but LaGuardia has a ways to go before it can welcome back Delta and the many regional and commuter flights that make up a big chunk of its traffic.

-Jason Clampet

The Daily Telegraph
Oct 31, 2012 8:11 am

Travellers to and from the United States are continuing to face major disruption in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy.

Airports on the country’s east coast will begin reopening this afternoon, but nearly 3,000 flights have already been cancelled today.

They include flights from Heathrow to New York, Newark and Washington, and services from Manchester to New York.

British Airways has been forced to cancel seven flights, and Virgin Atlantic two, while a total of 16 services from Heathrow, eight from Paris, four from Frankfurt, three from Manchester, three from Zurich and two from Rome, have been scrapped.

While Newark airport was due to reopen at 11am GMT, and JFK airport at around 4pm GMT, LaGuardia airport, and Teterboro in New Jersey, are likely to remain closed until tomorrow, meaning further delays and cancellations are likely.

Passengers affected by the disruption are entitled to a full refund or a seat on an alternative flight. Travellers are advised to check with their airline before travelling.

Today’s disruption brings the total number of cancellations caused by superstorm Sandy to nearly 20,000, and early estimates suggest the disaster could cost the airline industry around £250 million.

Cruise schedules are also likely to remain affected. New York’s port is currently closed, while some visits to Long Island Sound, Bar Harbor, Newport, Boston and Key West have been cancelled this week.

A number of cruise lines have also reported damage to their private Caribbean islands, caused by the storm, with Royal Caribbean’s island Coco Cay; Castaway Cay, owned by Disney Cruise Line; and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay, all affected. Ongoing strong winds in the Caribbean have been forcing ships to abandon some stops at smaller islands.

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