Winter storms prompt LAX flight delays, cancellations

Winter storms moving through the Midwest and the East Coast today were expected to continue hampering air travel into and out of Los Angeles International Airport through Tuesday morning.

Hundreds of flights were canceled nationwide due to the inclement weather, with 140 departure and arrival flights at LAX delayed and another 22 canceled between midnight and 5 p.m., according to airport spokeswoman Nancy
Castles.

The storms have waned, but the airlines may be catching up on back-logged flights until tomorrow morning, she said.

Castles said passengers should check their flight status before going to the airport.

The departure delays were caused by planes arriving late to LAX. There was also a ground stop at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, with the delays there lasting an average of about five hours.

Earlier today, snow and ice in Chicago resulted in two-hour delays for LAX passengers headed to the Windy City. Flights to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport were not allowed to depart until at least noon, according
to the Federal Aviation Authority.

American Airlines canceled at least eight flights out of LAX today, mostly due to poor weather affecting Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport and freezing rains at Chicago O'Hare, according to the airline's media
relations office.

The airline also reported that nine LAX flights were canceled on Sunday and two on Saturday, mostly due to weather conditions affecting the Dallas airport.

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