U.S. airlines waived change fees for flights Friday through Sunday ahead of a nor’easter that federal forecasters warn will bring high winds and rainfall with the potential for dangerous flooding.
As of Saturday morning, around 250 Boston flights were canceled, about a quarter of the day’s schedule, according to FlightAware. On Friday, more than 600 flights to and from LaGuardia Airport in New York were delayed, close to 60% of the schedule. Dozens of others were delayed at major New England and New York-area airports.
Carriers will often cancel a chunk, if not most, of their schedules during severe winter storms or hurricanes to ensure planes, passengers, and crews aren’t out of place, but airlines are still assessing the nor’easter’s potential path and impact.
American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue Airways said customers can change flights to a range of airports in the New York City area, Boston, and smaller New England airports without paying a change fee or fare difference if they can fly anytime before the middle of next week.
Potential weekend disruptions follow an equipment outage on Monday that forced carriers to cancel hundreds of flights bound for the New York area and Philadelphia.