Call Your Carrier: Closing In On 5,000 Flights Canceled At Northeast Airports

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Friday's blizzard forced airlines to cancel approximately 4,800 flights at airports in the northeastern part of the country, including John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International and LaGuardia, according to FlightAware.

The statistics take into account flights from Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"We're strongly urging people to call their carrier before they go to the airports," Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman told 1010 WINS.

Photos: Tri-State Braces For Major Storm

Port Authority airports are currently open and hosting some stranded passengers. Crews are clearing runways and taxiways and treating them with chemicals so they can accommodate flight operations.

The Port Authority is hoping to resume service at the airports by 3 p.m. Saturday.

Airlines issued so-called "weather waivers," allowing passengers flying in the storm-affected areas to change their flight date without paying a change fee.

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