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Boston, MA
New York, Boston, Miami, Newark, Washington Airports and More Report Over 1,600 Thanksgiving Travel Delays as Winter Storms Wreak Havoc Across US: New Updates You Need to Know – Travel And Tour World
Friday, November 29, 2024
Thanksgiving travel chaos reached unprecedented levels this year as winter storms and freezing temperatures disrupted flights across the United States, hitting major airports in New York, Boston, Miami, Newark, and Washington particularly hard. According to the latest data from FlightAware, over 1,600 flights were delayed, and 61 were cancelled nationwide, leaving travelers scrambling to navigate treacherous conditions and logistical challenges. These disruptions underline the widespread havoc caused by the storms, as airports across the country struggled to manage the Thanksgiving rush.
Storms Paralyze Travel on the East Coast and Beyond
The East Coast bore the brunt of the winter weather, with airports in New York, Boston, Newark, and Washington, D.C., experiencing significant delays and cancellations. The Arctic weather system unleashed heavy snowfall, icy conditions, and biting winds, particularly in the northeastern United States and around the Great Lakes. As travelers flocked to airports, the storms created a ripple effect of disruptions that spread across the country.
New York City’s major airports, including JFK International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport, reported 22 combined flight delays. Boston Logan International Airport also faced a challenging day, with four flight cancellations and three delays adding to the growing list of disruptions. In the Washington, D.C., area, airports such as Dulles International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall reported a total of 14 delays.
Miami and Florida Airports Not Spared
Even in typically warm Florida, the weather wreaked havoc on travel plans. Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, popular hubs for holiday travelers, saw eight delays and one cancellation. The far-reaching impact of the Arctic system highlighted the nationwide nature of the travel chaos.
Over 1,600 Delays Nationwide
FlightAware’s latest update on Thanksgiving travel revealed staggering numbers. Total delays within, into, or out of the United States climbed to 1,630, with 61 cancellations reported. The disruptions stranded passengers, delayed holiday reunions, and forced many to make last-minute adjustments to their plans. These figures underline the vast scale of the travel challenges caused by the storms.
A Record-Breaking Travel Weekend
Despite the weather, Americans showed remarkable determination to travel for Thanksgiving, setting new records for holiday mobility. AAA estimated that over 80 million people planned to travel distances exceeding 50 miles during the holiday weekend, with a significant portion opting for air travel. Airports across the country were packed, with long lines, frustrated passengers, and a sense of uncertainty filling terminals.
What Travelers Need to Know
As winter weather continues to affect large swaths of the country, travel experts are urging passengers to prepare for potential disruptions. Checking flight statuses directly with airlines, arriving at the airport early, and maintaining flexibility with travel plans are key strategies to navigate the chaos. Many travelers found that packing extra essentials, such as snacks, water, and entertainment, helped alleviate some of the stress caused by delays.
Resilience Amid Winter’s Wrath
While the Arctic cold and stormy conditions have tested the patience of travelers, many have remained resilient, prioritizing time with loved ones over the inconvenience of delays. Stories of camaraderie emerged from packed terminals, as passengers bonded over shared experiences of navigating one of the busiest and most chaotic Thanksgiving travel periods in recent memory.
As winter storms continue to impact travel in the coming days, staying informed and prepared will remain critical. With over 1,600 delays and 61 cancellations marking the start of the holiday weekend, travelers can only hope for smoother skies ahead as the season progresses.
Tags: and Newark Liberty International Airport, Boston, boston logan international airport, Dulles International Airport, flights cancelled, jfk international airport, laguardia airport, Miami, New York, newark, travel alert, travel industry, Travel News, US, Washington, winter storm
President Trump holds up an executive order to limit mail-in voting as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick looks on in the White House’s Oval Office in March.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
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Alex Wong/Getty Images
President Trump’s executive order to limit voting by mail has hit a legal hurdle.
On Thursday, a Boston-based judge blocked parts of the order that, at least so far, has not directly affected mail-in voting for this year’s midterm primary elections.
The legal fight, however, is likely to continue. The order pushes the boundaries of Trump’s authority under the Constitution, which gives state legislatures and Congress — not the U.S. president — the power to set the rules for federal elections.
The Trump administration is expected to appeal the new ruling by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, a nominee of former President Barack Obama, as a separate appeal of an earlier ruling by another federal judge moves forward in a similar set of lawsuits based in Washington, D.C.
Among other directives, Trump’s order from March calls for the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Service to create lists of adult U.S. citizens or eligible voters in each state. It also calls for USPS, which is independent of a president’s administration, to deliver mail-in ballots only to people on those lists.
In response, USPS has proposed using information from state election officials to create voter lists. Postmaster General David Steiner told lawmakers Wednesday that under the proposal, the Postal Service would not deliver the mail ballots of any states that refuse to turn over their absentee voter lists to the federal government.
For the D.C.-based cases, the judge found in late May that it was too early for an emergency ruling that would block directives that the Trump administration has yet to carry out. Democrats are appealing that judge’s ruling to the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia.
Editor’s note: USPS is a financial supporter of NPR.
Edited by Benjamin Swasey
Local News
The boy was stabilized and flown to a Boston hospital, police said.
A 13-year-old boy was flown to a Boston hospital after he was found unresponsive in a swimming pool at a home in Beverly on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
Police and firefighters were called to a home on Parramatta Road after bystanders pulled the boy from the pool, the Beverly Police Department wrote in a press release.
Bystanders administered CPR until first responders arrived, according to police. First responders continued CPR and other “life saving measures,” police said.
An ambulance took the boy to Beverly Hospital where he was stabilized. He was then taken by medical helicopter to a Boston hospital, police said.
The incident is currently being investigated by Beverly police, the department said.
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Boston, MA
Federal judge in Boston bars Trump from implementing proof of citizenship requirement to vote – The Boston Globe
A federal judge on Wednesday permanently barred President Donald Trump’s administration from implementing most of his first executive order on elections, part of which sought to require people to show documentary proof of citizenship when they register to vote.
The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper in Boston effectively converts a preliminary injunction she issued a year ago, in which she temporarily blocked many of Trump’s efforts to overhaul elections, into a permanent ban.
Casper rejected the administration’s argument that the lawsuit to block the changes brought by Democratic state attorneys general was premature because the rules had yet to be implemented. Instead, she agreed that the Constitution gives states and Congress the authority to regulate elections, and that Trump’s requirements violated the separation of powers.
The Constitution “does not grant the President any specific powers over elections,” she wrote.
Among other proposed changes, Trump’s order would have required people to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote, prevented mail ballots from being counted if they arrive after Election Day, even if they were postmarked by then, and punished states that failed to comply by withholding certain federal money.
It was the latest in a string of rulings against the elections executive order Trump signed just months after taking office for his second term. He has since signed another executive order on elections, seeking to create a national voter list and limit mail balloting. That directive also faces multiple legal challenges.
Last fall, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., overseeing a separate challenge to the first election executive order by civil rights and Democratic Party-aligned groups blocked the government from taking steps to include the proof-of-citizenship requirement on the federal voter registration form. That judge later barred the Secretary of Defense from requiring documentary proof of citizenship when military personnel register to vote or request ballots.
In an apparent nod to the difficulty of implementing a proof-of-citizen requirement by executive order, Trump is pushing legislation in the Republican-controlled Congress to create such a mandate. The SAVE America Act has passed the House but has stalled in the Senate, leading Trump to advocate for eliminating the filibuster that is blocking the legislation.
On Wednesday, he abruptly cancelled the expected signing of a bipartisan housing bill, saying he won’t sign legislation until Congress passes his proof of citizenship requirement for voting.
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