Airlines cancel over 1,400 U.S. flights as ice storm hits multiple states

[February 01, 2023]  (Reuters) - Airlines canceled over 1,400 flights in the United States on Wednesday, after an ice storm hit states from Texas to West Virginia.

Pedestrians walk across icy roads as a cold weather front moves through Dallas, Texas, U.S., January 31, 2023. REUTERS/Shelby Tauber

A total of 1,467 flights within, into or out of the United States were canceled, while 527 flights were delayed as of 6.48 a.m. ET, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday warned in a tweet that travelers could expect to see some snowy conditions in certain areas including Dallas, Fort Worth and Memphis, which could delay certain flights.

"The ongoing winter storm will continue to bring hazardous impacts to North and Central Texas through at least early Thursday morning," The U.S. National Weather Service said in its Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area forecast discussion.

Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines Co led cancellations with 487 flights, while Fort Worth, Texas-based peer American Airlines Group Inc closely followed, canceling nearly 480 flights.

Southwest and American did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

The latest cancellations come nearly a month after Southwest faced U.S. government backlash for canceling 16,700 flights over the holidays, as it grappled with bad weather and outdated technology.

(Reporting by Nathan Gomes and Arpan Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)

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