Snow, ice, and bone-chilling temperatures have caused major disruptions to air travel operations across the United States as the long weekend comes to a close. Airlines have been forced to cancel thousands of flights in recent days, with over 2,000 flights scrapped on Monday alone, according to data from FlightAware.

Leading the way in cancellations is Southwest Airlines, which has canceled 650 flights, accounting for approximately 16% of its schedule. In addition, over 680 Southwest flights have been delayed as of mid-day Monday. The airline has been particularly affected by adverse weather in its key focus cities of Chicago and Denver, which have experienced heavy snowfall and bitter cold temperatures.

Denver International Airport (DEN) holds the unfortunate distinction of leading all US airports in flight cancellations, with 155 flights scrapped as of mid-day. Meanwhile, Midway International Airport (MDW) in Chicago, another crucial hub for Southwest Airlines, has seen 30% of its Monday flights canceled, the highest rate among all US airports.

Winter storms have also presented challenging conditions for airports in Texas. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Houston's Intercontinental Airport (IAH), and Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) have collectively experienced more than 200 cancellations as a result of wintry weather.

The severe snow, ice, and dangerously cold conditions have complicated airport operations nationwide. At O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, extreme temperatures caused breakdowns in the Airport Transit System, which shuttles passengers between terminals, rental car facilities, and public transit. However, the system is now back up and running. Similarly, Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) in New York saw approximately 83% of flights canceled due to heavy snowfall, prompting travel restrictions implemented by Governor Kathy Hochul and even leading to the rescheduling of a Buffalo Bills home playoff game.

Officials at Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) in Texas warned travelers of extreme weather conditions affecting North Texas, leading to a significant number of expected cancellations. On the other hand, Houston's airport teams have been commended for their efforts in pretreating roads and runways with de-icing chemicals to maintain as normal operations as possible.

The National Weather Service has issued warnings for wintry conditions, including freezing rain, across Texas, Louisiana, the central Appalachian region, and the Mid-Atlantic states. As these winter weather systems move eastward, airlines have extended travel alerts to the East Coast and Northeast, providing travelers with added flexibility to change their itineraries.

Adding to the challenges, two major US carriers, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, continue to cancel over a hundred daily flights due to the Federal Aviation Administration's grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. This grounding follows a harrowing midair emergency involving an Alaska flight on January 5. Alaska Airlines is still awaiting final instructions from the FAA and Boeing regarding inspections and maintenance required for their MAX 9 fleet. The airline has also announced plans to increase its oversight of Boeing's production line for 737 MAX aircraft.

Travelers with upcoming plans are advised to closely monitor their airline's app for any early warning signs of flight delays or cancellations. It is essential to note that even if the weather conditions are clear at the departure point, widespread disruptions may leave aircraft and crews out of place, affecting flights in regions where weather conditions are favorable.

Passengers are encouraged to check their airline's website to determine if their itinerary is covered by a travel alert that allows for ticket changes at no additional cost, providing some flexibility during this challenging period.