Airline cancels flights in bid to recover from storm disruptions

[MaineDem]

PORTLAND, Maine — JetBlue said Saturday it has canceled flights in and out of Portland and 10 other destinations this weekend in an effort to recover from disruptions linked to the Valentine´s Day snowstorm that battered the Northeast.

The low-cost airline characterized its decision as unprecedented and said it was made in order to reposition its aircraft and allow flight crews to get their mandatory rests so they will be eligible to return to duty.

In addition to Portland, the affected cities include Austin, Texas; Bermuda, Charlotte, N.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Houston; Jacksonville, Fla.; Nashville, Tenn.; Pittsburgh; Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and Richmond, Va.

JetBlue said the cancellations were affecting 23 percent of its weekend schedule and that further cancellations were possible.

Affected customers may receive refunds or rebook their flights, the airline said.

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D8NBHFL00-47.html

That will disrupt a lot of school vacation travel. I don't think I'd want to be a parent who had to tell the kids we're not going to Wally World.

[Dirtman 1]

1. Affected

My daughter's best freind (our "other daughter")got caught up in this. She and my daughter go to UofM-Farmington. They are just starting their week vacation yesterday. Both came down and stayed with us yesterday, with Megan scheduled to fly out to home in New York today. Got a call from her Mom this morning with news of the calcelled flight. She ended up taking a bus out of Portland to Boston, then AMTRAK to New York this afternoon. I didn't envy her that trip! Shame on Jet Blue!:nuke: