As FTWO reported yesterday, what was termed by the US weather authorities as a “life-threatening” blizzard, dumped up to 61 centimetres of snow in the US Northeast.
And, bearing in mind Sandy, a superstorm that ravaged the East Coast in 2012, governors of at least eight East Coast states declared emergencies – meaning that this latest storm was affecting up to 60 million people in nearly a dozen states.
It has halted thousands of flights, closed ports and prompted officials to ban cars and trucks from roads and shut down public transport.
Airlines cancelled about 2 700 flights, including nearly 700 flights at the three main airports serving New York City.
With SAA just one of the international carriers that have cancelled flights in-and-out of the region, SA air cargo shippers can expect delays.
What this has meant for the regional carriers reveals just how badly the blizzard has hit the industry’s schedules.
Delta Air Lines cancelled about 730 Monday flights and 960 flights for Tuesday.
United Airlines has cancelled all flights Tuesday from its Newark, New Jersey hub, as well as flights from New York, Boston and Philadelphia.
American Airlines and US Airways said 626 flights were cancelled on Monday and another 970 flights cancelled Tuesday.
Jetblue Airways cancelled 280 flights on Monday, 525 on Tuesday and 190 more on Wednesday.
Southwest Airlines cancelled more than 130 Monday flights, 300 for Tuesday and another 50 for Wednesday.
The ports of New York and New Jersey have also been brought to a standstill, with imports and exports having been suspended due to the blizzard.
The Port Authority said a decision would be made during last night (SA time) on whether the terminals would remain closed today (Wednesday).
The reopening depends on the length and severity of the storm.
Amtrak also suspended rail services on Tuesday between New York and Boston, and into New York State, Vermont, Massachusetts and Maine.
US Northeast transport snowed in as blizzard hits
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