Winter has a grip on Austin, where an arctic cold front brought more than just a freeze to theTexas state. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport faced a flurry of cancellations and delays Monday morning, as passengers found themselves grounded due to the icy weather conditions. Accompanying the unusual Texan snowfall were the kind of airport statuses that travelers dread: delayed departures and scrapped plans, according to CBS Austin.
The Federal Aviation Administration had given passengers a head’s up over the weekend, advising them to "Always check your flight status with your airline before you head to the airport, and to to http://fly.faa.gov to see if your airport is affected," a warning that came into full effect as icy conditions prevailed.
With almost 2,300 flights canceled nationwide Monday morning, FlightAware numbers show Southwest Airlines at the top of the list with approximately 615 canceled flights, followed by United Airlines, with 276 grounded, reported by the Austin American Statesman.
For those daring the roads to or from Austin's airport, caution is advised, with dangerous conditions expected. The Texas Department of Transportation provides a travel times map and cameras to assist travelers in planning their trips. In the face of winter's wrath, those with flights not yet canceled are urged to give themselves a buffer of at least two hours before their scheduled departure times. All the while, an ongoing list of the day's cancellations and delays continues to be updated and is available to view online, travelers seeking to navigate the wintry hurdles have been reminded to check with their carriers before setting foot outside the safety of their homes.
