Storms Cancels 2 Dozen LAX Flights, Delays Hundreds More

LOS ANGELES, CA — The onset Friday of a strong winter storm brought about the cancellations of eight arriving flights at Los Angeles International Airport and 16 departing flights between midnight and noon.

There also were delays involving about 400 arriving flights at LAX and 200 departing flights, according to the flightstats.com website.

Of those flights, three flights arriving at LAX from San Francisco were canceled and nine were delayed.

Four flights from LAX to San Francisco were canceled and 15 were delayed.

Some flights involving LAX were delayed because airplanes were arriving from the west -- over the ocean -- and departing to the east, which is the opposite of what usually happens and which is weather-related, according to LAX spokesperson Charles Pannunzio.

Travelers were advised to check with their airlines for the latest information.

Southwest Airlines posted a notice on their website warning that service Friday and Saturday "may be disrupted."

According to Southwest, flights may be delayed, diverted and/or canceled for the following cites: Burbank, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Ontario, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose.

"Customers who are holding reservation to, from or through the above cities on Friday Feb. 17 or Saturday Feb. 18 and (who) want to alter their travel plans may rebook in the original class of service or travel standby within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city-pairs and in accordance with our accommodation procedures without paying any additional charge," the statement said.

In Orange County, the storm forced the cancellation of multiple flights at John Wayne Airport with American Airlines canceling all of its takeoffs and arrivals until 7:30 p.m.

Southwest Airlines has canceled most of Friday's flights, airport spokeswoman Deanne Thompson said.

Other carriers have called off a few flights, she said.

"We expect delays and diversions due to the weather today," Thompson said.

There hasn't been much commotion at the airport over it because the airlines "do a good job of reaching out to their customers" to alert them to a cancellation, Thompson said. Airport officials are also using social media to alert passengers.

"For the most part it's pretty calm" at the airport, Thompson said.

"It's very windy, and the wind is the main problem," Thompson said. "And we expect heavy rain later today. There are some flights taking off, and for some it's business as usual but in an abundance of caution other flights are being cancelled."

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock