Airlines in US cancel hundreds of flights due to winter storm expected to hit East Coast

Airlines in the US have canceled hundreds of flights as a powerful winter storm builds up over the East Coast.

The storm is expected to hit the region with high winds and snow.

Over 500 flights had been cancelled to or from the Boston Logan International Airport, by last afternoon, FlightAware, a plane-tracking site said.

More than 900 flights in and out of the main three New York City-area airports have been canceled.

According to Delta Air Lines, passengers booked on flights today or Friday from a dozen airports in the Northeast could depart as late as 8 January without paying a change fee. However, they may be required to pay the difference in fare.

A similar waiver for over a dozen airports in the Northeast has been issued by American Airlines. The carrier is also waiving change fees for travel from 14 airports in the South, including Savannah and Raleigh, due to the storm. The storm is expected to bring it its wake a record-setting chill.

According to Southwest Airlines, flights to and from 19 East Coast airports may be canceled, delayed or diverted due to the storm. The airline is encouraging travelers to change their travel dates.

Newark Liberty International Airport listed 817 flight cancellations for today and Friday as of 7 pm yesterday according to FlightAware, which includes nearly two-thirds of Newark's incoming and outgoing flights today.

According to FlightAware dozens of flights were cancelled across the Southeast yesterday.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said it had 524 pieces of snow equipment at the area's airports capable of melting 500 tons of snow an hour. However, there may still be cancellations due to high winds and poor visibility.