East Coast blizzard cancels JWA flights

Some John Wayne Airport passengers are getting a post-Christmas lump of coal. Airlines canceled a handful of flights Monday and delays persist, as the nation’s air travel system recovered from a blizzard on the East Coast.

On Monday, Continental Airlines cancelled its 7:45 a.m. and 4 p.m. departures to Newark Liberty International Airport, along with three afternoon arrivals coming from Newark.

Delta Airlines canceled its 11:55 a.m. arrival from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and its 1:40 p.m. departure to JFK.

Both Newark and JFK were closed Sunday and Monday morning as crews dug runways and ground equipment out from a blanket of snow. Overnight, about two feet of snow fell across the New York area.

Unlike at other airports in the U.S. and in Europe, which recently had passengers sleeping on cots and luggage conveyer belts, JWA has been relatively well off.

“There’s pretty advanced notice that the flights are canceled,” airport spokeswoman Jenny Wedge said.

That’s no consolation for some Monday morning travelers whose flights to western airports were delayed for more than three hours.

On Sunday, JWA passengers and their families also endured delays and cancellations. Continental cancelled two arrivals and three departures to Newark. Delta diverted one JFK flight to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Check the JWA arrivals/departures page on the airport website, or with individual carriers, for the latest flight information.