WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — While South Florida enjoys sunshine and temperatures in the high 70s, a historic winter storm system up north is creating a nightmare at the airport.
As of Sunday afternoon, nearly 150 flights scheduled to travel to and from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) had been canceled, and at Fort Lauderdale International Airport, more than half of all flights were canceled.
PBI passengers react
CBS12 News reporter Katie Bente spoke with passengers at PBI on Sunday as cancellations continued to climb.
“We were in the Bahamas, and we found out that our flight got canceled, so we had to scramble and find new flights,” said Kristi Workman, who was traveling with her family after a cruise.
Workman said their original plan was to fly out of Fort Lauderdale, but that flight was canceled before they even returned to South Florida. The family later rebooked on a flight out of Palm Beach.
“We were planning on flying out of Fort Lauderdale, but that got canceled, and now we’re here waiting on a flight,” Workman said.
After more than a week away, she said the uncertainty was exhausting.
“Yeah, I want to get home,” Workman said, laughing. “I want to get home.”
Nearby, Peter and Caroline Wagner, visiting from Australia, were also anxiously watching the weather and airline updates as they prepared to head home after a three-week stay in the U.S.
“The last few days it’s been a bit like woah,” Peter Wagner said. “We’re very lucky. Very lucky.”
The couple has a long journey ahead, with a critical connection through Dallas on their way back to Melbourne.
“We’ve been watching the news for the last few days and wondering what on earth we might do if it does get canceled,” Caroline Wagner said.
As of Sunday afternoon, their flight was still scheduled to depart. “
We’re fingers crossed that it won’t change,” she added.
Nationwide numbers
And the disruptions extend statewide. Dozens of flights have been delayed or cancelled at Miami International Airport, Vero Beach Regional Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport, and Orlando International Airport.
According to FlightAware, nationwide, over 15,000 flights were canceled on Sunday, and over 11,000 were delayed. Aviation analysts are saying Sunday could mark the most severe day for U.S. flight cancellations since the pandemic-driven shutdowns of 2020.
See also: Winter storm producing ice, snow, and severe weather continues its northeastward track
Even with perfect weather in Florida, the storm has paralyzed Atlanta, Delta’s primary hub, and nearly walled off travel to the Northeast corridor, affecting major hubs like JFK, EWR, LGA, and PHL.
Because many flights are grounded due to the snow and ice in the Mid-Atlantic, they cannot fly south to South Florida’s airports, resulting in chaos at the terminals.
While many Delta and American hub-to-hub flights (like FLL to ATL) are currently listed on time, “creeping delays” may be imminent as ice accumulates in North Georgia.
Even as the storm clears, the puzzle of repositioning thousands of displaced crews and aircraft means South Florida’s airports will likely feel the chill of this storm until mid-week.
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