Johannesburg – SA Airways on Monday cancelled flights to and from New York due to bad weather conditions.
“SAA advises all customers that due to the adverse weather conditions as a result of the snow storm in New York… flights to and from John F Kennedy International Airport in New York have been cancelled,” SAA spokesman Tlali Tlali said in a statement.
“We will continue to monitor the conditions and will report any changes in the current weather conditions that may impact a safe travel experience to New York.”
He said affected customers would be assisted via the airline’s call centre.
The US northeast braced for a monster winter storm Monday, with residents snapping up supplies ahead of what New York City’s mayor warned could be a blizzard “the likes of which we’ve never seen before.”
Officials in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington urged residents to stay home as they prepared for a storm that could dump up to three feet (about a metre) of snow in some areas.
“We are facing most likely one of the largest snow storms in the history of this city,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference.
“My message to all New Yorkers is to prepare for something worse than we have seen before.”
“Take every precaution, now is the time to get ready for this extreme weather,” de Blasio said. “Don’t underestimate the storm.”
The US Weather Channel referred to the cold blast as a “possibly historic” winter storm, as airlines cancelled more than 1 800 flights early Monday as the weather system neared, according to flightaware.com.
Some airlines waved change fees as major delays and widespread cancelations were anticipated.
“This system will be responsible for heavy snowfall and strong winds, with blizzard conditions possible along coastal areas from New Jersey to Massachusetts,” the weather service said.
“Many of the major metropolitan areas will be affected anywhere from Philadelphia through New York City and into Boston,” it added.
Blizzard warnings were in effect along the coast from central New Jersey to the Canadian border.
Sapa- AFP