MD80DRVR
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- Feb 28, 2002
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USAirways (Charts), in a decision that underscores JetBlue's sensitivity to the problem, cancelled none of its East Coast flights.
"The weather is fine for flying," company spokesman Andrew Christie said.
By MARYCLAIRE DALE : Associated Press Writer
Mar 18, 2007 : 2:20 pm ET
PHILADELPHIA -- Weary travelers spent a third day trying to depart Philadelphia International Airport, where the skies and runways were clear Sunday but US Airways struggled to recover from a paralyzing ice storm that struck much of the Northeast.
The airline was still trying to find seats Sunday for 100,000 stranded passengers systemwide, spokesman Andrew Christie said.
Many of them had been diverted to Charlotte, N.C., on Friday when the late winter storm dumped snow, sleet, ice and freezing rain on Philadelphia, New York and other Northeast cities, he said.
Computer problems, airline staffing rules and other problems slowed US Airways' attempts to clear the backlog. Meanwhile, 275,000 passengers were already booked on US Airways flights on Sunday that were nearly sold out from the start, the airline said.
"We're doing the best we can," Christie said.
Airline officials were trying to round up spare planes and crews to work on added flights. Four extra flights departed Charlotte, he said.
Passengers in Philadelphia reported waiting three hours or more to rebook a ticket or reach a reservation agent by phone over the weekend. Automated US Airways kiosks at the airport were also down at times, they said.
US Airways operates two-thirds of the approximately 1,200 daily flights in Philadelphia.
Airport staff handed out disposable silver blankets and pillows to the several hundred people stranded at the airport overnight Saturday -- down from an estimated 1,000 or more people the night before, a spokeswoman said.
"Once the passengers were rebooked and going through security, they were moving them (through) pretty quickly," airport spokeswoman Phyllis VanIstendal said Sunday. "But in a situation like this, where you have thousands of people, I guess there are limits to everything."
Elwood Williams and his wife were trying to get to Orlando, Fla., for their 25th wedding anniversary.
"You look out across here and there are about 40 ticket counters, and about a third of them are occupied," Williams told WPVI-TV.
The storm forced the cancellation of most flights in Philadelphia on Friday.
Passengers on 15 US Airways flights sat on the tarmac there for more than four hours Friday, Christie said. The airline promised to rebook those customers and offered them $400 travel vouchers. Those who could not reschedule their flights would get full refunds, he said.
"The weather is fine for flying," company spokesman Andrew Christie said.
By MARYCLAIRE DALE : Associated Press Writer
Mar 18, 2007 : 2:20 pm ET
PHILADELPHIA -- Weary travelers spent a third day trying to depart Philadelphia International Airport, where the skies and runways were clear Sunday but US Airways struggled to recover from a paralyzing ice storm that struck much of the Northeast.
The airline was still trying to find seats Sunday for 100,000 stranded passengers systemwide, spokesman Andrew Christie said.
Many of them had been diverted to Charlotte, N.C., on Friday when the late winter storm dumped snow, sleet, ice and freezing rain on Philadelphia, New York and other Northeast cities, he said.
Computer problems, airline staffing rules and other problems slowed US Airways' attempts to clear the backlog. Meanwhile, 275,000 passengers were already booked on US Airways flights on Sunday that were nearly sold out from the start, the airline said.
"We're doing the best we can," Christie said.
Airline officials were trying to round up spare planes and crews to work on added flights. Four extra flights departed Charlotte, he said.
Passengers in Philadelphia reported waiting three hours or more to rebook a ticket or reach a reservation agent by phone over the weekend. Automated US Airways kiosks at the airport were also down at times, they said.
US Airways operates two-thirds of the approximately 1,200 daily flights in Philadelphia.
Airport staff handed out disposable silver blankets and pillows to the several hundred people stranded at the airport overnight Saturday -- down from an estimated 1,000 or more people the night before, a spokeswoman said.
"Once the passengers were rebooked and going through security, they were moving them (through) pretty quickly," airport spokeswoman Phyllis VanIstendal said Sunday. "But in a situation like this, where you have thousands of people, I guess there are limits to everything."
Elwood Williams and his wife were trying to get to Orlando, Fla., for their 25th wedding anniversary.
"You look out across here and there are about 40 ticket counters, and about a third of them are occupied," Williams told WPVI-TV.
The storm forced the cancellation of most flights in Philadelphia on Friday.
Passengers on 15 US Airways flights sat on the tarmac there for more than four hours Friday, Christie said. The airline promised to rebook those customers and offered them $400 travel vouchers. Those who could not reschedule their flights would get full refunds, he said.
in his handyman business!:laugh: 
