US: Texas winter storm snarls air travel with more than 4,000 flight cancellations

Airlines have canceled more than 4,000 flights in Texas since Monday as an unusual winter storm bringing snow, ice and record cold temperatures hit the state, creating perilous road conditions and knocking out power to millions. Nearly 900 flights to and from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, American Airlines biggest hub, were canceled on Tuesday, more than half of the schedule. Close to 1,000 flights were canceled there on Monday as the storm snarled travel at the end of the Presidents Day weekend. American was putting airport staff up at hotels to help avoid commuting problems. George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport, a major United hub and the city’s William P. Hobby Airport, a Southwest hub, said they would remain closed until 4 p.m. CT. More than 100 flights in and out of Chicago were also canceled on Tuesday after the region received more snow. Airline schedules have been drastically reduced because of the Covid pandemic, but the storm struck after carriers saw a bump in demand for the long weekend. The TSA’s daily US airport screenings topped 1m Thursday and Friday for the first time since early January.<br/>