GPB: LATE WINTER STORMS DISRUPT AIR TRAVEL IN NORTHEAST

by Valarie Edwards

A late winter storm in the northeast, means hundreds of cancelled flights from Washington, D.C., to Boston.

Atlanta’s Delta Airlines was forced to cancel 250 of its flights, including those in and out some of the nation’s busiest airports.

Hardest hits are the New York area’s three major airports, including Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark International in New Jersey.

Delta Airlines spent Thursday contacting thousands of its customers, says Delta spokesperson Gina Laughlin.

“By proactively cancelling flights, that helps us do two things. One, we can start contacting customers early but it also ensures that we don't have airplanes stuck in airports where inclement whether is imminent.”

Other airlines reporting cancellations include American, Northwest and Jet Blue.

Jet Blue came under fire in early February after an ice storm stranded thousands of passengers for hours on planes parked on New York area runways.

The National Weather Service expects rain and snow to continue in the north east throughout much of the weekend.