A spokesperson for Jacksonville International Airport reports that about a third of flights Sunday are canceled due to winter weather impacts at other airports.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The effects of the winter storm hitting several states have rippled to the First Coast.
Flight Aware reported 11 flights were canceled and 31 were delayed Saturday at Jacksonville International Airport, with more cancellations to follow Sunday.
A spokesperson for the airport reported that about 1/3 of Sunday’s flights were already canceled by Saturday evening, with the number nearing 80.
One passenger made it through the chaos just in time to say “surprise.”
“It took them forever to de-ice our plane and the roads were terrible getting there,” said Charity Pippin as she left JAX.
When Pippin left for the airport in Nashville, the spinning tires all around her had her worried if her plane would get in the air.
“What usually takes me an hour took me two hours to get there,” said Pippin. “There were wrecks all over the interstate and a lot of flights canceled.”
However, she had a compelling reason to make it to Jacksonville.
“It’s my mom’s birthday today and I’m surprising her,” said Pippin.
Despite the long drive and an hour on the runway to de-ice, Pippin touched down in Jacksonville with enough time to make it to her mom’s party.
Not everyone was able to complete their trips on time.
“Yeah, two-hour flight delay,” said Shane Butcher while waiting near TSA.
Butcher was stuck waiting out a delay to fly back to New Jersey, so he settled in to enjoy Florida’s climate for as long as he could, knowing he’d have a shovel in his hand as soon as he landed.
“I mean, I have no choice,” said Butcher. “I have a little brother waiting for me back home, and he’s not going to be able to do the work himself tomorrow morning.”
However, the baggage claim carousels still whirred throughout the evening, as several passengers said they were relieved they got their flights before the delays and cancellations really started to snowball.
Pippin isn’t too worried if the winter weather impacts her flight home.
“I’m okay getting stuck in Florida,” said Pippin. “Good place to be stuck.”
A spokesperson for JAX is recommending passengers check for updates on their Sunday flights before departing for the airport, given the amount that have already been canceled.