NEW YORK — Sunday was expected to be the busiest day of the summer season at area airports, but severe thunderstorms caused numerous delays and cancellations.
AAA projects 5.7 million people will fly in the days leading up to July 4, an increase of nearly 7% from last year. But all three major airports in the New York area were experiencing problems as the holiday week began.
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“It’s just torture”
Carlo Tonalezzi desperately tried to reach Atlanta after waiting six hours at Newark Liberty, but his flight was ultimately canceled.
“It’s just torture,” he said. “Car rental, hotels, everything is booked, big headache.”
The TSA expected more passengers to pass through checkpoints Sunday than any other day, but severe storms caused significant flight delays and cancellations.
“We had no idea what the weather was going to be like until we got here,” said Megan Crabtree of Nashville.
” I’m mad. I have to go home to work,” said Shatal Johnson, of Atlanta. “They don’t even have flights for tomorrow. »
Frustrated travelers spent hours waiting in line trying to change their reservations. Grace Harris of Atlanta was one of the few still smiling.
“I just try to have a positive attitude, eat dinner, enjoy another day off and keep moving forward,” Harris said.
Construction work at JFK airport
JFK Airport is is the subject of a $19 billion construction project to build two new international terminals, as well as a new road network and a new transport hub.
CBS New York spoke with industry experts who said that while construction and road closures are never a good time, the busy summer season could be the worst. The airport already expects to welcome 1 million more passengers this summer than last summer.
To help ease congestion and encourage people to use public transit, AirTrain fares will be cut in half from Monday, July 1 through Labor Day, September 2. Single trips at Jamaica and Howard Beach stations will cost just $4.25.
Visit construction.JFKAirport.com to learn more about the impacts of construction.
