Most airlines are hoping runways will be cleared by Sunday morning, so flights can resume. But many Sunday flights are already canceled. Watch video
NEWARK -- The runways at some of the nation's busiest airports were silent Saturday morning as the East Coast waits for a massive winter storm to pass.
As of 6 a.m., more than 4,100 flights in and out of the U.S. are cancelled nationwide on Saturday, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service.
More than 1,200 of the canceled flights were scheduled to leave airports in New Jersey, New York or Philadelphia Saturday, according to FlightAware.
Several airports, including Philadelphia International and Washington Dulles, announced the cancellation of all Saturday flights.
At Newark Liberty International, United Airlines announced Friday it was suspending operations until the storm passed. United is the airport's largest carrier.
N.J. blizzard intensifies Saturday, projections boosted in several counties
"We will be shutting down operations at Baltimore, New York LaGuardia, New York/Newark, Philadelphia, Washington Dulles and Washington National," the company said in a statement. "If you have a United ticket for travel to, from or through the East Coast of the U.S., please check the status of your flight before going to the airport."
American Airlines made a similar announcement, suspending operations in Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore. American Eagle will not fly out of Newark, John F. Kennedy Airport of LaGuardia Airport on Saturday, the company said.
The ripple effect of the cancellations across the country has created a travel nightmare for travelers. Many passengers who couldn't find alternate accommodations are waiting out the storm in the airports.
A United Airlines airliner seen from Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport. United will waive fees for travelers who have to rebook flights due to the weekend storm. (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) "The Port Authority also will have supplies of cots and other essential items ready to accommodate ticketed passengers who may become stranded at the airports," officials from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency that oversees the region's airports, said in a statement.
Most carriers announced fee waivers that will allow passengers to book later flights for free. But, social media sites were filled with complaints from passengers who had to wait hours on the phone to get new flights or could not log in to overworked airline websites and mobile apps.
Most airlines are hoping runways will be cleared by Sunday morning, so flights can resume.
Inside look: 5 important ways N.J towns prep for a blizzard
Nearly 200 flights at Newark Liberty are canceled for Sunday, according to FlightAware. But, about 50 percent of flights are scheduled to take off, assuming the runways are plowed and operations return to normal.
Philadelphia, JFK and LaGuardia listed less than 30 percent of their Sunday flights as cancelled as of 6 a.m. Saturday, according to FlightAware. But airport officials said passengers should check with their airlines before attempting to travel to the airport Sunday.
Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find NJ.com on Facebook.