New Yorkers Prepare For Worst As Storm Complicates Busy Travel Day
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While most flights have been getting out on time Wednesday morning, the bad weather is still a cause for concern at local airports as New Yorkers battle stormy weather on the eve of Thanksgiving. Vivian Lee filed the following report.
There was a rush at Laguardia Airport Wednesday morning, one of four area airports expected to handle a third of all air travelers in the country during this Thanksgiving holiday. That's about 1.3 million people.
So many passengers left home early with the same idea.
'To make sure everything is OK,' said one traveler.
'Everything's been fine,' said another traveler, who added that he was surprised at that.
It was like that through most of the morning. There were only a few delays and cancellations, and only some said they changed their flight in anticipation of a storm tracking from the southwest through the northeast all day.
'My mother was freaking out about the weather and she said 'Get on an earlier flight, get on an earlier flight,' so I took the half day today. My boss said 'Sure, just get out, go.' So here I am,' a third traveler said.
Some airlines waived cancellation or change fees.
By mid morning though, the Port Authority confirmed roughly 50 flight cancellations each at Laguardia, JFK and Newark.
Departure delays were averaging 15 to 30 minutes, while some arrivals were 90 minutes late.
'At Laguardia, the traffic is really concentrated in the fifteen-hour period between 7 o'clock and 10 o'clock at night, 7 in the morning to 10 o'clock at night. Same at Newark. At JFK, again, heavy during the day but heavier at JFK during the afternoon and early evening hours,' said Thomas Bosco, interim director of aviation for the Port Authority.
'We definitely expect more delays and potential cancellations so we are advising people to actually check their airlines website to find out what the current schedule would be, but also to check in online early. That way, you can definitely secure your seat.,' said Nicola Mattis of Travelocity.
The heaviest air travel day for the country is expected to be Sunday, December 1, when more than 2.5 million people are expected to fly through the country's 450 airports.
Port Authority officials urged anyone who has been approved for expedited screening at security, where you don't have to remove shoes and belts, to take advantage of it.
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