Winter Storm Fern has forced airlines to cancel and delay thousands of flights, leaving travellers stranded amid snow, ice and freezing conditions. At least 20 people are believed to have died due to the bad weather.
The storm, affecting regions from the U.S. south to the Canadian border, has caused the worst disruption event since the pandemic.
Across the United States alone, more than 10,000 flights were cancelled this weekend as heavy snow, freezing rain and gale-force winds hammered major aviation hubs including New York, Chicago, Dallas and Philadelphia.
Airports reported cascading delays and rapid schedule changes, with travellers facing long waits for rebooked connections and limited onward services.
Power outages affected more than a million customers from Mississippi to New England, intensifying the disruption.
North American travellers are contending not only with flight disruptions but also hazardous road and rail conditions, as emergency services urge people to stay off unploughed highways and commute cancellations create gridlock near key terminals.
Airlines such as Delta and American have issued travel waivers to help passengers reschedule without penalty and some carriers have adjusted operations to reduce delays where possible.
For Australian travellers with flights to or from the U.S. and Canada over the coming days, the storm has heightened uncertainty.
Long-haul services connecting Sydney or Melbourne with North American gateways – often via oneworld or other partner networks – are vulnerable to knock-on effects.
Delays in the U.S. can ripple back to international departures, complicating onward journeys home or across the Pacific. Although direct flights between Australia and North America are limited, many booked itineraries transit through hubs now experiencing severe disruption.
Australian carriers Qantas and Virgin Australia are closely monitoring the situation. Qantas has advised it may contact passengers directly with updates on flights connecting through the affected regions.
Both airlines are urging those travelling in the coming days to stay in contact with their booking agents and airline apps for the latest updates, as ongoing ice, snow and wind continue to impact schedules.
