Storm impacts busiest summer travel day at NYC-area airports. Check your flight status.
NEW YORK -- Sunday was expected to be the busiest day of the summer travel season at area airports, but severe thunderstorms caused numerous delays and cancellations.
AAA predicts 5.7 million people will fly in the days leading up to July 4, an increase of nearly 7% compared to last year. But the New York City area's three major airports had problems as the holiday week began.
Check your flight status
Travelers are encouraged to check with their carriers for individual flight information.
Use the following links for local airports:
"This is just torture"
Carlo Tonalezzi frantically tried to make it to Atlanta after waiting six hours at Newark Liberty, but his flight was eventually cancelled.
"This is just torture," he said. "Car rental, hotels, everything booked, big headache."
The TSA was expecting more fliers to pass through checkpoints Sunday than any other day, but severe storms caused major flight delays and cancellations.
"We didn't know about any of the weather until we got here," said Megan Crabtree of Nashville.
"I'm upset. I need to get home to my job," said Shatal Johnson of Atlanta. "They don't even have flights for tomorrow."
Frustrated fliers spent hours in lines trying to rebook. Grace Harris of Atlanta was one of the few still smiling.
"Just trying to have a positive attitude, grab a dinner, enjoy another day off work and keep moving forward," Harris said.
Construction at JFK Airport
JFK Airport is undergoing a $19 billion construction project to build two new international terminals, along with a new road network and transportation center.
CBS New York spoke with industry experts who said while there is never a good time for construction and road closures, the peak summer travel season might be the worst. The airport already expects to see 1 million more passengers this summer than last.
To help ease congestion and encourage people to use mass transit, AirTrain fares will be cut in half from Monday, July 1 through Labor Day on Sept. 2. Single rides at both the Jamaica and Howard Beach stations will cost just $4.25.
Visit construction.JFKAirport.com to learn more about the construction impacts.
