Airlines cancel hundreds of flights as massive winter storm sweeps across U.S.

Airlines canceled more than 1,300 flights scheduled for Friday as a massive winter storm sweeps across the U.S. with heavy snow and sleet in the forecast, followed by bitter cold.

More than 400 U.S. flights were canceled on Friday, with 1,325 canceled from Saturday’s schedule, according to flight tracker FlightAware. The majority of Saturday’s cancellations were at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, with 900 scrubbed flights, and at Dallas Love Field, with 139 cancellations, each about half of the day’s schedule.

Airlines routinely will cancel flights ahead of a major storm to prevent planes, passengers and crew from getting stranded, which can worsen disruptions after severe weather moves out.

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and other U.S. carriers said they are waiving change and cancellation fees as well as fare differences to rebook for customers with tickets to and from more than 40 airports around the country. The waivers include restrictive basic economy tickets.

American said it was repositioning its airplanes and increasing staffing at major airports to help soften the impact of the storm and to “set the stage for a fast, safe recovery once conditions improve.”

The National Weather Service is warning that the winter storm could affect hundreds of millions of people and is expected to “bring widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the Southern Rockies to New England through Monday.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.