Severe thunderstorms, rather than snow or ice, have become the primary obstacle for holiday travelers heading to airports this season. The weather disrupted air traffic on Thursday at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), causing delays and cancellations at nearby Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
According to FlightAware data, American Airlines faced significant challenges due to the stormy conditions, resulting in over 1,000 flight delays and more than 300 cancellations on Thursday. Southwest Airlines experienced over 1,600 delayed flights as its operations in Dallas and Houston were affected. United Airlines also reported more than 1,000 delays at its IAH hub.
The disruptions occurred during one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season. The Transportation Security Administration screened more than 2.7 million passengers on Thursday alone.