BlueMoon

Most of it has to do with the airlines don't want the PR of people sleeping in airports for days or stranded on airplanes for hours. In addition it really isn't safe for people to be trying to get to the airport in these conditions, with the flights canceled hopefully people will stay home or at work and not get involved into multi-car pileups or stranded on the side of the road.

Winter weather causes 50 car pileup

KC10 FATboy

I would expect this type of reaction from a passenger, but not from a professional pilot. I think it is pretty simple why they cancelled the flights. Why risk lives and airplanes by conducting operations during a major snowstorm that is producing heavy snow, heavy icing, thudersnow, and white out conditions? The economic risk and liability is too great.

Equally important, can the airport staff and crews make it to the airports? Finally, there is the common sense approach. Many of the cities / counties are under states of emergency. Only necessary emergency personnel are allowed to be on the highways right now.

Before the storm hit, I had 12-16 inches of snow on the ground from last weeks snowstorm. Last night, 6-8 inches fell. As of today, another 12 inches of snow has fallen, there are blizzard conditions, and it is supposed to continue into the evening hours. Also, PA just closed four interstates in my local area.

And make no mistake, this has never happened in history! The Mid Atlantic season snowfall records have all been shattered. We've never had, in the previous 126 years of weather record keeping, 3 major snowstorm events.

Considering what's happening here, I think it is pretty darn smart for said company to advance cancel flights. It keeps the crews and airplanes in position for a quick recovery. It also means that your staff, passengers, and aircraft remain safe. Thank God for companies making the right decisions.

iaflyer

Probably because this is what is going on there, right now:

KJFK 101951Z 03024G36KT 1/4SM R04R/2000V2800FT SN BLSN FZFG VV005 00/M01 A2902 RMK AO2 PK WND 03036/1951 SFC VIS 1/2 SLP825 SNINCR 2/6 P0003 T00001011

KJFK 101855Z 1019/1124 04022G31KT 1SM -SN BR OVC012
TEMPO 1019/1020 1/2SM -SN BLSN FZFG VV007
FM102000 02020G30KT 1SM -SN BR OVC007
TEMPO 1020/1024 1/2SM SN BLSN FZFG OVC004
FM110000 35025G35KT 1SM -SN BR OVC007
TEMPO 1100/1104 1/4SM +SN BLSN FZFG VV003
FM110500 32022G32KT P6SM SCT010 OVC025
TEMPO 1105/1107 3SM BLSN
FM110700 32020G31KT P6SM BKN040 OVC080
TEMPO 1107/1111 3SM BLSN
FM111100 32018G28KT P6SM BKN150
FM111500 32015G23KT P6SM SCT025

Lots of people connect in JFK from international flights - there wouldn't be hotel rooms for everyone if they kept trying to run the operation. Smart choice, in my opinion.

Mason32

Good thing we have global warming or we'd really be screwed....

FlyingViking

Really KC ?

Think you might have jumped to a conclusion here. I was simply asking if somebody knew if there was a rule or a regulation for this kind of weather / operation. I am not condoning their decision, safety comes first. However, I did fly in to JFK today and other than a windy ILS app, deicing before leaving, the operation was easier than a normal day at JFK due to no aircrafts in line anywhere.

Phantom Flyer

"Can an airline just do this ?" Absolutely, and in the case of the past week, it was probably a prudent decision. Why increase your risk and accelerate your exposure to an incident/accident to get a flight into LGA, JFK, EWR, DCA, etc when conditions dictate that the aircraft may be stranded for a prolonged period of time ? In addition to the financial responsibility of distressed passengers, having flight crews stranded and assets out of position, it doesn't make any economic sense.

The weather channel doesn't have any influence in an airlines decision to cancel flights despite the fact that they think they are the "all knowing, omnipotent power from on high". Sorry Jim Cantore...not your call.

While we're on the Weather Channel, they like to tell the uninformed that ABC airport is "closed" because of the storm. In 99.9% of the cases, runways may be closed for plowing and/or flight operations may be suspended but the airport, in reality, is not "closed". Just a pet peeve.

Stay warm if you're in D.C., PA or the Northeast.

G'Luck shoveling, Mates

filejw

An airline can make any decision it wants when it comes to dispatch decisions. I find it a little funny that "back in the day" 1979 as a new hire in a DC9 we would make 6/8 app a day in wx like this. About half in non radar conditions.

KC10 FATboy

Sorry FlyingViking .. I took your post as if you were whining. You have my apology.

If anyone cares, I've been measuring a consistent 29 inches of snow in my yard ... and we have 3-4 feet snow drifts.

FlyingViking

No whining just hungry for more knowledge and a better understanding.. 29 inches and 3-4 foot drifters.... WOW... sounds like a good time if you have all the right gear and the power is still on. Hope you're safe and well.

KC10 FATboy

We were lucky, we had nothing but snow since 6PM yesterday. Those with ice and freezing rain have power issues.