Thousands of flights cancelled as Sandy eyes US east coast

Airports stretching from Virginia to Boston have reported massive cancellations as Hurricane Sandy approaches the northe

Travel Insurance News - 29/10/2012

<< British holidaymakers strap in for Hurricane Sandy | Travel News | Flights resume at LaGuardia following Sandy >>

Airports stretching from Virginia to Boston have reported massive cancellations as Hurricane Sandy approaches the northeastern US.

Reports said late on Monday that the ordeal has left passengers stuck in airports around the world, as some of the US’s biggest airlines – notably Delta and American – called off all flights to the busy New York area on Sunday night.

Officials from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said on Sunday that all five of the region’s airports – which include Newark, JFK, LaGuardia - were expected to be completely silent through at least Sunday night. Similar scenarios are expected at major cities throughout the Northeastern corridor, including Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore.

Between Sunday and Monday alone, more than 7,500 flights have been cancelled as a result of the Category 1 hurricane, according to airline performance-rating website FlightAware. And the problem is only going to get worse, as Sandy promises to bring the region’s air travel to a full halt for two days when it makes landfall on Monday night.

Sandy is currently packing 75mph winds and experts say that the storm’s impact may prove to be of epic proportions when tidal effects and the system’s widespread low pressure are taken into account.

<< British holidaymakers strap in for Hurricane Sandy | Travel News | Flights resume at LaGuardia following Sandy >>