Hurricane Sandy: delays, cancellations continue

Flight and public transport delays and cancellations are expected to continue throughout the day today (October 31), as authorities assess the full impact of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed yesterday that John F Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International and LaGuardia airports were closed.

The port authority also said in a statement that air carriers have ceased operations until further notice and that it was encouraging travellers not to travel to airports. Rail services on AirTrain JFK and AirTrain Newark, as well as all public and private bus services also remained suspended until further notice. The port authority urged travellers to check http://www.panynj.gov/ for updated information about the airports, the tunnels and bridges, and all other Port Authority facilities.

Meanwhile, according to flightaware.com, over 15,773 flight cancellations were recorded by late yesterday afternoon as a result of Hurricane Sandy:

•    Around 7,791 flights were cancelled on Monday with Philadelphia (PHL) most affected, with 1,529 cancellations. The New York airports each had about 1 100 cancellations.
•    Around 6 047 flights were cancelled Tuesday, with Philadelphia still most affected with 1 085 cancellations, New York airports had nearly 1 000 flight cancellations each, with more expected.  
•    Around 635 cancellations are confirmed for today (October 31), but the number is expected to rise as damages are assessed and re-opening times are communicated.

Sandy is expected to weaken over land at midweek, but conditions will remain adverse throughout the Northeast, eastern Great Lakes and upper Ohio Valley. Up to 3ft of snow is expected to fall on the Appalachian mountains in West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky.