Winter Storm Fern Grounds 13,000 Flights, Paralyzing U.S. Air Travel Empire

Airlines scrapped more than 13,000 flights over the weekend as Winter Storm Fern barreled across the U.S., delivering a brutal mix of heavy snow, freezing rain, sleet and high winds from New Mexico to New England. The storm, which the Weather Channel named Fern, disrupted operations at major hubs and stranded hundreds of thousands of passengers, marking one of the most severe weather-related shutdowns in recent years. Flight-tracking service CNBC reported nearly 3,900 cancellations on Saturday alone, more than doubling to over 8,800 for Sunday as the system targeted the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

American Airlines bore the heaviest brunt, axing 982 Saturday flights—about a third of its mainline schedule—while Southwest canceled 572, or 20% of operations, according to FlightAware data cited by CNBC.

Delta Air Lines, centered at storm-battered Atlanta, issued warnings of ongoing adjustments, with Delta News Hub noting cancellations at airports in North Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee to prioritize safety.

JetBlue, United and others followed suit, with over 40 airports qualifying for fee waivers. The preemptive cuts aimed to avoid stranding aircraft and crew, a tactic airlines honed after past disruptions. As of Saturday afternoon, Raleigh-Durham International in North Carolina saw most flights to Portland, Maine, wiped out.

Storm’s Relentless Path Hammers Key Hubs

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport grounded about 1,400 Saturday flights, while Dallas Love Field lost 190—most of its schedule—per CNBC. LaGuardia in New York faced 87% Sunday cancellations, Ronald Reagan Washington National hit 96%, and Newark Liberty and JFK both exceeded 70%. Weather.com detailed nearly 1,000 Friday disruptions out of Dallas, Denver and Chicago, with delays persisting days after.

The National Weather Service forecasted widespread heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain through Monday, potentially impacting hundreds of millions. Reuters reported over 100,000 power outages alongside 4,000 Saturday cancellations and 9,000 for Sunday, with Delta trimming schedules at Atlanta, Boston and New York hubs.

Airports from Atlanta to the Northeast braced for ice accumulation and snowfall, prompting The Points Guy to call it the worst cancellation stretch in years, fueled by ice in rarely wintry areas and heavy snow northward.

Airlines’ Proactive Measures and Waivers

American Airlines stated it was “repositioning its airplanes and increasing staffing at major airports to help soften the impact of the storm and to ‘set the stage for a fast, safe recovery once conditions improve,’” as quoted in CNBC. Delta urged rebooking via app or phone, automatically handling refunds after 24 hours for those opting out, per Delta News Hub.

Major carriers waived change fees and fare differences for tickets to over 40 airports, including basic economy, covering travel through January 25 or 26 with rebookings up to late January. TIME listed American’s flexibility for 35 cities like Baltimore, Boston and Philadelphia. United and Southwest extended similar policies across dozens of sites.

Frontier Airlines allowed refunds for delays over three hours domestic or six international, while Spirit waived mods for 13 cities through January 25, according to Reuters. The U.S. Department of Transportation mandates refunds for cancellations regardless of ticket type if passengers decline alternatives.

Passenger Chaos and Broader Disruptions

Hundreds of thousands faced multiday snarls in January’s lean travel period, with Weather.com noting over 9,000 cancellations for Saturday-Sunday alone amid deteriorating roads and accidents from Texas Panhandle to Arkansas. ABC News reported 18 states declaring emergencies, National Guard activations in 12, and Sunday potentially logging record weather-related cuts.

The New York Times confirmed nearly 13,000 weekend axings, with 4,000 Saturday by evening. Power outages hit tens of thousands, per The Guardian, as snow blanketed Nashville and Oklahoma City.

Industry insiders note airlines’ data-driven pre-cuts minimized post-storm pileups, but ripple effects lingered into Monday. Travelers were advised to monitor apps, rebook swiftly and consider international lines for faster support, echoing tips from The Points Guy.

Operational Strategies Amid Historic Assault

For insiders, Fern exposed vulnerabilities in southern hubs unaccustomed to ice, with Delta canceling across Ohio-Tennessee Valleys including Nashville and Raleigh-Durham, as Reuters detailed. Southwest de-icing at Nashville highlighted ground crew strains. ABC News flagged Sunday as a top cancellation day historically.

Carriers like Virgin Atlantic adjusted Eastern North America routes, per their travel news. AccuWeather’s Jonathan Porter predicted up to 4,000 cuts, validated by outcomes. Recovery hinged on staffing boosts and aircraft repositions, setting stages for swift rebounds as Forbes outlined major alerts from frigid temps to gusts spanning Rockies to New England.

The event underscores aviation’s weather fragility, with proactive waivers and tech aiding mitigation. As Fern faded, airlines eyed rapid normalization, but executives watched for bitter cold follow-ups complicating de-icing and fuel efficiency.