Blizzard Shuts New York Airports



By Joseph Woelfel 12/27/10 - 09:19 AM EST
Updated from 6:14 a.m. EST
Airline Aggravation

AMR DOWNNEW YORK (TheStreet) -- A blizzard on the East Coast has forced the closure of New York-area airports, and more than 1,400 flights in the area have been canceled, according to reports.


The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, on its Web site, announced the closure of John F. Kennedy International Airport late Sunday night: "Weather conditions at JFK Airport have caused disruptions in flight activity. The airport is currently closed. Please check with your airline before traveling to JFK to determine if your flight is affected."


The Metropolitan Transit Authority, which operates the New York City subway system and regional railroads, on its Web site urged commuters to stay home.


"Due to the extreme nature of the ongoing blizzard, including high winds and major snow drifts, the MTA is urging its customers to stay home this morning if at all possible. There are major suspensions across our transportation network that may continue through the morning rush hour, including a full suspension of service on the Long Island Rail Road, suspension of Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line, and suspension of several of the lettered subway lines."


Seastreak, which provides high-speed ferry service from the Jersey Shore to Wall Street and midtown Manhattan, canceled all service.


More flight cancelations at the three major airports in the New York area are expected Monday. CNN, citing the Federal Aviation Administration, is reporting that Newark airport was scheduled to reopen at noon EST, LaGuardia at 2 p.m. and JFK at 4 p.m. on Monday.


But airlines say they don't expect normal service to resume until Tuesday, The Associated Press reports.


Forecasters are calling for as much as 20 inches of snow in the New York area from the storm that began Sunday afternoon and isn't expected to end until early Monday evening.


American Airlines, a unit of AMR(AMR_), canceled 171 Monday flights in and out of major airports from Washington through Boston, an airline spokeswoman told CNN. Those cancellations follow more than 262 flights that the airline canceled Sunday.


-- Written by Joseph Woelfel