Amid cancellations, airlines add warming shelters, chili and extra workers to cope with the cold

Airlines canceled hundreds of flights at Chicago’s airports as a brutal cold snap struck the Midwest Wednesday. But some flights were still taking off and carriers said they were taking steps to help employees working outside deal with dangerously cold temperatures. As of Wednesday afternoon, 1,519 flights arriving and departing at O’Hare International and 328 at Midway Airport had been canceled. United Airlines canceled about 500 flights out of O’Hare Wednesday and Thursday, or about 80% of scheduled flights. American Airlines had canceled 75 Wednesday flights as of Tuesday evening. To help ramp workers who have to be outside handle the cold, United said it would bring in employees typically stationed at other airports so it could set up rotating shifts and minimise time spent in freezing temperatures <br/>