Hundreds of flights from DFW canceled ahead of winter storm: What to know if you’re flying
More than 500 flights scheduled for Thursday out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport were already canceled as of Wednesday morning, as North Texas braces for a winter storm.
About 40% of Thursday flights from DFW are canceled, according to FlightAware. Those numbers will certainly rise as the ice, sleet and snow move in overnight Wednesday and early Thursday.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field said that travelers should pay attention to the latest forecasts, give themselves extra time to get to the airport and check for flight updates from their airline. Those headed to Love Field should remember that space in the airport’s parking garages is first-come, first-served.
Winter storms have already caused havoc across half the country since the weekend. On Tuesday, more than 1,000 flights were canceled by mid-afternoon, with the highest numbers in the Washington and Baltimore region, according to FlightAware.
Southwest Airlines had the most schedule disruptions Tuesday with 206 cancellations, or 6% of scheduled flights, and 679 delays. Less than 10% of American Airlines flights were delayed.
DFW is ready to treat runways and roads in the event of icy conditions.
“DFW Airport is monitoring the potential for winter weather with the National Weather Service (NWS). Airport Operations teams are prepared to begin treatment of runways and taxiways on the airfield and bridges, overpasses and roadways on the landside of the airport to help ensure the safety of customers and employees,” an airport spokeswoman said in a statement Tuesday morning.
Dallas Love Field also plans to monitor the weather and respond accordingly.
“To prepare for any predicted extreme cold fronts, DAL’s operations are responsible for pretreating/treating and clearing the runways, taxiways, Herb Kelleher Way, and pedestrian walkways. Our team also monitors surface temperatures and conducts friction tests on the runways. During these fluid events, the airport’s leadership staff frequently meets to discuss updates and reassign resources as needed, and applicable staff remains on-site around the clock throughout the events to oversee these tasks,” a Love Field spokeswoman said in a statement.
If mass delays or cancellations happen, Love Field is prepared to assist travelers who may need to stay at the airport.
“To accommodate them, we keep our secure portion of the terminal open and provide cots and blankets as necessary and snacks as available. We typically also have limited concessions open throughout the day/night to accommodate passengers,” an airport spokeswoman said.
Airlines ultimately decide to delay or cancel flights, not airports. The Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic control teams determine if skies and runways are safe for aircraft.
An American Airlines spokeswoman said the company is monitoring conditions and preparing for the storm across its operations.
“American will continue tracking this system with our customers’ and team members’ safety top of mind,” said a statement from the airline.
American has issued a travel alert allowing customers affected by the storm to rebook their flights without change fees.
This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 2:50 PM.
