Feb. 02--Airlines in the U.S. canceled more than 5,000 flights Sunday and Monday because of Chicago's fifth-worst blizzard, according to FlightAware.com.
On Sunday, airlines canceled 2,566 flights in the U.S., with 2,827 more flights being delayed. O'Hare and Midway airports were most affected, representing about two-thirds of all flights grounded. Those airports saw over 75 percent of their flights scrubbed, the site reported.
Many areas in and around Chicago, including O'Hare, saw about 19 inches of snow.
On Monday, airlines canceled 2,792 flights and as of 8 a.m., 645 flights were delayed. The New York area is being harder hit, with Newark, N.J., a hub of Chicago-based United Airlines, being most affected. More than half of flights there have been canceled.
In Chicago as of about 9 a.m., nearly 800 flights Monday at O'Hare had been canceled and about 175 had been delayed, according to FlightStats, which tracks airline and airport performance. Midway reported about 100 canceled flights and 40 delayed flights.
FlightAware.com advised travelers flying to or from the Northeast to change flights to Tuesday or later, and those connecting there should try to change routes.
gkarp@tribpub.com
Twitter @spendingsmart
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