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A massive winter storm poised to sweep across much of the United States has prompted airlines to issue widespread travel waivers and operational alerts as meteorologists warn of potentially historic conditions. The system is expected to bring heavy snow, sleet, ice, and dangerous wind chills to dozens of major and mid-sized cities across the East Coast, South, and Midwest. This includes Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), which is the world’s busiest airport and Delta Air Lines’ largest hub.
While the storm’s worst conditions are forecast to ramp up Friday and into the weekend, airlines are urging travelers to adjust plans now. This means leaving days earlier or delaying itineraries to avoid cancellations and chaos at the airports. Model projections have shifted north over the past 12 hours, which suggests that impacts could remain fluid as the system develops.
Airline Hubs Squarely in the Bullseye
Winter weather is expected to disrupt major operational chokepoints including:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) (Delta)
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) (American)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) (American)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL) (Southwest)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) (United)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) (United)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) (United)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) (American)
Airlines anticipate significant delays and cancellations as ice, sleet, and freezing rain push into southern states, while northern areas are preparing for heavy snowfall. Travel conditions on roads are also expected to deteriorate across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Airlines Issue Waivers Ahead of Storm
Airlines are directing passengers to dedicated waiver pages to check options around flights. In general, the waivers allow date changes without penalty provided customers keep the same origin, destination, and cabin.
American Airlines
Covered travel dates: January 23rd to 25th
Airports Impacted:
- Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
- Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
- Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO)
- Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)
- Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Huntsville International Airport (HSV)
- Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
- Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport (LEX)
- Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT)
- Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
- Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB)
- Memphis International Airport (MEM)
- Midland International Air & Space Port (MAF)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
- Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA)
- Will Rogers World Airport (OKC)
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
- Richmond International Airport (RIC)
- Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA)
- San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
- Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF)
- Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF)
- Tulsa International Airport (TUL)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
Eligible tickets must have been purchased by January 19th and can be rebooked between January 21st an 28th. Basic Economy is included. More details can be found here.
Delta Air Lines
Covered travel dates: January 23rd to 25th
Airports Impacted:
- Alexandria International Airport (AEX)
- Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field (AGS)
- Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR)
- Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
- Charleston International Airport (CHS)
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA)
- Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)
- Columbus Airport (CSG)
- Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL)
- Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA)
- Fayetteville Regional Airport (FAY)
- Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)
- Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
- Huntsville International Airport (HSV)
- Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
- Albert J. Ellis Airport (OAJ)
- Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
- Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT)
- Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT)
- Memphis International Airport (MEM)
- Monroe Regional Airport (MLU)
- Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM)
- Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport (OKC)
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
- San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
- Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV)
- Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF)
- Tri-Cities Airport (TRI)
- Tulsa International Airport (TUL)
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
- Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
Eligible tickets must have been purchased by January 21st and can be rebooked between January 21st an 28th. Basic Economy is included. More details can be found here.
Southwest Airlines
Covered travel dates: January 23rd to 26th
Airports Impacted:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA)
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
- Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
- Charleston International Airport (CHS)
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL)
- Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
- Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
- Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
- Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT)
- Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
- Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB)
- Memphis International Airport (MEM)
- Midland International Air & Space Port (MAF)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
- Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport (OKC)
- Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU)
- Richmond International Airport (RIC)
- San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
- Tulsa International Airport (TUL)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
Eligible tickets can be rebooked between January 21st an 28th. Basic Economy is included. More details can be found here.
Spirit Airlines
Covered travel dates: January 23rd to 25th
Airports Impacted:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Charleston International Airport (CHS)
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Memphis International Airport (MEM)
- Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
- Richmond International Airport (RIC)
- San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
Eligible tickets can be rebooked between January 21st an 28th. More details can be found here.
United Airlines
Covered travel dates: January 23rd to 26th
Airports Impacted:
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
- Charleston International Airport (CHS)
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
- Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Dayton International Airport (DAY)
- Dodge City Regional Airport (DDC)
- Greensboro-High Point Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)
- Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
- Harrisburg International Airport (MDT)
- Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL)
- Hays Regional Airport (HYS)
- Hobbs Lea County Regional Airport (HOB)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Huntsville International Airport (HSV)
- Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
- John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport (JST)
- Joplin Regional Airport (JLN)
- Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE)
- Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport (LEX)
- Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport (LBL)
- Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT)
- Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
- Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB)
- McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
- Memphis International Airport (MEM)
- Midland International Air & Space Port (MAF)
- Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW)
- Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
- Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
- Providence T.F. Green International Airport (PVD)
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
- Richmond International Airport (RIC)
- Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA)
- Salina Regional Airport (SLN)
- San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
- Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV)
- Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF)
- State College University Park Airport (SCE)
- Tulsa International Airport (TUL)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
- Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP)
Eligible tickets must have been purchased by January 20th and can be rebooked between January 21st an 28th. Basic Economy is included. More details can be found here.
Travelers Should Move Quickly
Airlines are urging customers to make adjustments before the storm’s arrival to avoid getting stranded, especially those connecting through major southern hubs that rarely experience extended winter icing events. With the storm’s trajectory still shifting, weekend flight disruptions could cascade across the national system even in areas not directly impacted by snow or ice.
Anthony’s Take: f you have travel planned in or through these regions between Friday and Monday, monitor conditions closely, rebook if you can, and be prepared for a messy few days ahead.
(Featured Image Credit: uatp2 via iStock.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
