US airlines have rolled out sweeping travel waivers as a winter storm, forecast to spread heavy snow, sleet, and dangerous ice across two dozen states, threatened to disrupt air travel across a wide swath of the country heading into the weekend.

The National Weather Service has warned that the mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow could make travel dangerous and lead to power outages and tree damage in parts of the Southeast, while heavier snow is expected farther north. The winter storm is expected to bring cold temperatures not seen since 2021, according to AccuWeather, a weather forecasting company.

Delta Air Lines canceled flights at select airports in five states on Thursday afternoon, as carriers said the mix of ice, snow, and strong winds could slow airport operations, ripple into delays and cancellations, and complicate rebooking during one of the busier winter travel periods.

"This will likely result in thousands of flight cancellations on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday," said Dan DePodwin, vice president of forecasting operations at AccuWeather. Travel booking app Hopper estimates that upwards of 15,000 flights could be delayed due to the storm.

Major airlines are offering flexible rebooking options as a winter storm threatens large parts of the United States.

Southwest warned of disruptions across the South and East, allowing customers to rebook or travel on standby within a two-week window. Delta said the storm could affect flights across the Southern Plains and Southeast, including Atlanta, and has canceled flights in several states. The airline will automatically rebook affected passengers and allow fee-free changes under its waiver policy.

American Airlines expanded similar flexibility across hubs, including Dallas–Fort Worth and Charlotte, while United Airlines issued waivers covering much of the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Ohio Valley, including Newark and Washington-area airports.

JetBlue introduced waivers for New York and Boston-area airports and 11 other cities. Frontier said passengers can request refunds if flights are delayed or canceled beyond set limits, while Spirit waived change fees and fare differences for travel between January 23 and 25 across 13 cities.

Airlines urged travelers to monitor flight status through mobile apps and websites. Travel data firm Hopper said bookings with disruption protection rose 17% for the upcoming weekend, warning that ripple effects could be felt nationwide, even far from the storm.

Source: REUTERS