Icy Weather Snarls Holiday Travel for Thousands of U.S. Fliers

  • Hubs including Denver, Chicago and Washington feel effects
  • Delays, cancellations disrupt start of Christmas traffic peak

(Photo credit should read ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images)

Photographer: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
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Freezing rain and snow disrupted more than 7,000 flights across the U.S. ahead of the Christmas-season traffic peak, slowing thousands of travelers with delays and cancellations centered on airports in Denver, Chicago and Washington.

United Continental Holdings Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co.were among the hardest-hit carriers, according to industry data tracker FlightAware.com. Each has a major base in all three markets, and snags also rippled into United’s hub at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty Airport.