ORLANDO, Fla. – A massive winter storm grounded hundreds of flights at Orlando International Airport, causing headaches for travelers.
More than 400 flights were canceled in Orlando on Sunday with the system stretching across 34 states. It is also responsible for canceling more than 12,000 flights nationwide, according to FlightAware — the highest single-day total since the COVID pandemic.
For Michael Brock, a quick round trip to Orlando to celebrate a friend’s birthday has turned into a long and complicated journey home.
“I’m from Nashville, and I haven’t been able to get back home. My flight got canceled,” Brock said. “I’m trying to work things out with my manager so I can get to work tomorrow.”
[EXCLUSIVE:Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE)| PINIT!Share your photos]
Brock was originally scheduled to arrive home at 9 p.m. Sunday. Instead, he’s now flying to Atlanta and then taking a bus the rest of the way. He says he won’t arrive until 2 p.m. Monday, just two hours before his shift starts.
“All the other one-stop flights filled up,” Brock said. “I couldn’t catch a one-way from here to the next point for the next two days.”
Another traveler John Newell, added “you’re at the mercy of God with this stuff,” “You can’t really do anything about it — just be patient.”
The storm forced airports like LaGuardia in New York to shut down and caused significant cancellations in major cities across the country. Still, some travelers, including Newell and his family, are hoping to make it home.
“My son-in-law and daughter-in-law are on a flight back to Indy — about a half hour out on a Frontier flight,” Newell said. “My fingers are crossed we all get home safe.”
Some travelers stuck in limbo in Orlando are now paying hundreds of dollars for hotels, hoping they won’t have to spend even more if weather delays continue.