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Storms Slow TIA Flights

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 22, 2008

TAMPA -- People headed to Tampa International Airport to meet incoming passengers or catch a flight out should check the latest flight information.

Snow and ice in the Northeast has delayed more than 80 flights headed into Tampa International this afternoon and tonight and canceled a handful of others.

That's led to delays of more than 40 departures and more than a half-dozen cancellations, with more likely to be reported.

Flights from TIA to the three major New York airports have been delayed between 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 hours, the Federal Aviation Administration reported on its airport status Web site.

Flights to Philadelphia are being delayed more than 90 minutes.

In addition to the FAA website, travelers can check local flight statuses here.

Passengers are encouraged to call their airlines for updated information rather than the airport.

Weather Story

NEW YORK (AP) -- A winter storm blanketed much of the Northeast on Friday, delaying flights at the region's major airports and causing havoc during the morning commute.

The massive system, which had brought everything from freezing rain to sleet to snow in parts of Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois on Thursday, lumbered east and north overnight.

The weather service predicted 6 to 9 inches for New York, where snow began before dawn. Up to a foot was forecast in suburban counties, with 10 inches for Connecticut. Storm warnings extended north across Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. In many places, snow was changing to rain, sometimes freezing rain.

"Already, this is the most significant storm of the season for New York City," said National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Connolly.

Flights at John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark International Airport were delayed more than five hours, and in Philadelphia the average arriving flight was 4 1/2 hours late. Some airlines waived their fee for passengers rebooking tickets.

Driving was no more fun than flying. The speed limit along the New Jersey Turnpike was reduced to 35 mph, and jackknifed rigs shut down southbound lanes of Interstate 95 for a couple of hours in Greenwich, Conn.

"I didn't go over 30 mph on the expressway," said Paul May, whose commute on New York's Long Island on Friday took three times as long as normal. "It's very slippery. The roads are treacherous."

Four hours into his route delivering Coca-Cola to Manhattan stores, Anthony Grady unloaded several bottles in front of a convenience store and said, "Normally I would have finished this route in five hours. Now it might take me 10."

The weather was tough on horses, too, so the race card at Aqueduct was canceled.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817 and tjackovics@tampatrib.com.

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