Flight cancellations, delays in Eastern Canada, U.S.

INVC,

CANADA,

Travelling is still treacherous in most of Atlantic Canada after a blizzard blasted through the region, closing down offices, schools, roads and cancelling flights — affecting airlines across Canada and the U.S.

Whiteouts in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador prompted police to urge the public to stay off the roads as plough operators began clearing the piles of snow.

Numerous flight delays and cancellations were reported in the major airports of Atlantic Canada. Midday Saturday, there were reports of a power outage at St. John’s airport.

Air Canada is warning passengers flying to and from certain cities to expect either delays or cancellations in:

– Saint John

– St. John’s

– Toronto Pearson and island airports

– Boston

– New York’s LaGuardia, JFK and Newark, N.J., airports

– Philadelphia

– Washington, Ronald Reagan Baltimore

– Chicago

The storm whipped through the Maritimes on Friday before passing southeast of Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula overnight, cancelling flights and causing whiteout driving conditions.

Meanwhile, the same system dumped snow all over the U.S. Northeast, shutting down roads and schools, and delaying thousands of airline passengers.

At Halifax’s Stanfield International Airport, cancellations are dwindling.

However, many people trying to get home to the Maritimes from the U.S. are having a tough time finding a flight.

Helen Clarke is trying to get home to Sackville, N.S., after her US Airways connecting flight from the United Kingdom was cancelled due to the storm. She has been stuck in Philadelphia since Thursday. She estimates dozens of Nova Scotians are faced with the same problem.

Clarke said she has tried to get on three other flights out of Philadelphia, but each has been cancelled

“We have been abandoned by US Airways. They are making no announcements, they are not telling us anything, they’re not giving us any food vouchers, they’re not giving us any pillows, they’re not putting anybody up in hotels. They’re refusing to speak to us.”

US Airways has not returned a call from CBC seeking comment

Clarke said it looks as if it will be another five days before she and her family can fly out.

She’s not alone.

An estimated 3,200 flights were cancelled in the U.S. Northeast corridor — including Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C. and New York — between Friday and Saturdaymorning. Officials have said to expect more cancellations or delays over the weekend.