Winter storm, government shutdown disrupt travel at Charlotte Douglas

CHARLOTTE — Blizzard conditions in the Northeast and a partial government shutdown are disrupting travel at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, causing nearly 150 flight cancellations Monday.

While TSA PreCheck lanes have reopened following an initial suspension, federal officials warned that staffing fluctuations could affect wait times throughout the day.

The Department of Homeland Security initially announced on Sunday that TSA PreCheck and Global Entry services would be suspended due to the government shutdown. Officials reversed the decision regarding PreCheck hours later, though Global Entry remains suspended.

The security uncertainty comes as a powerful winter storm grounds planes along the northeast coast. Airports in cities like New York, Boston and Washington D.C. were hit with whiteout conditions Sunday into Monday morning. Heavy snow and strong winds put a halt on travel plans.

“Yesterday, we were supposed to fly out of Charlotte at 11,” Samantha Claire told Channel 9’s Miana Massey at the airport. “We came from Austin, Texas, and we didn’t find out that our flight was canceled until almost 5 p.m., so we sat here all day.”

The same goes for thousands of other travelers — many who said the uncertainty is the hardest part.

Historic storm slams the northeast

“We got rebooked and rebooked again, so we ended up having to spend the night, find a hotel, return the rental car, so there was a number of inconveniences,” another traveler, Breanna Collone, said.

Collone was able to snag an early morning flight back to Baltimore, but others haven’t been so lucky.

While some travelers will have to wait days in the Queen City, now that the storm has passed, many are making the best of it until they finally get home.

“One thing you know when you travel is you can’t control nature,” John Phelan said. “You just have to take one deep breath, and hopefully, you’re flexible enough to be able to withstand what nature’s going to throw your way.”

Airline officials are urging all passengers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport.

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