Airlines cancel more than 12,000 flights during severe winter storms and scramble to rebook holiday travelers

US flight cancellations eased on Sunday but federal officials warned that disruptions could continue after severe winter storms and bitter cold upended air travel across the country ahead of Christmas. US airlines have canceled more than 12,000 flights from Wednesday through Saturday, about 14% of their schedule, according to flight tracker FlightAware. The bad weather and resulting flight disruptions upended the holiday of hundreds of thousands of people during what airlines expect to be one of the busiest periods since before the pandemic. In addition to delays, customers complained on social media about missing luggage. Airlines and travelers were hard-pressed to find alternative flights before the holiday because planes were booked so full and schedules dropped sharply during the weekend. The Federal Aviation Administration said schedules peaked at 47,554 flights on Thursday, dropping to 30,875 on Saturday and just 27,997 on Sunday, Christmas Day. Airlines are required to provide cash refunds to travelers who decide to scrap their trips altogether if carriers cancel their flights. FedEx and UPS warned holiday packages could arrive late due to the storms. Airlines scrubbed about 5,600 flights on Friday alone, about a quarter of the schedule, when storms swept through cities from the Pacific Northwest to the East Coast, bringing life-threatening cold to many areas. Federal forecasters warned of dangerous road conditions from ice and low visibility. Southwest Airlines was hit hard by the weather, canceling about a quarter of its flights from Wednesday through Saturday, according to FlightAware.<br/>