Flight cancellations, delays frustrate tired passengers amid winter weather

Airport managers tell Fox 35 News there were at least 77 cancellations and at least 100 flight delays in and out of Orlando International Airport Friday.  

The big board flashed more and more red delays and cancellations as Friday evening went on, and flight problems could continue into the weekend as the winter storm churns up the east coast.
 
The red eyes at Orlando International Airport belonged to tired travelers overwhelmed by a wave of delays and cancellations Friday night.

Some travelers took naps while they waited for others to arrive on delayed flights.   

Pedro Campanelli and his family were trying to fly to Washington, D.C. Friday to get a connecting flight back home to Brazil, but it did not happen.

Campanelli said, “Because of the weather, we have that problem. We cannot leave Friday, so they will take us tomorrow. So, we are going to Chicago at 8 a.m.”

As Friday evening went on, the big board at OIA morphed into a red board, filled with flight delays and cancellations.  
 
Samantha Contos almost flew out of Orlando.  

“We were going to Charlotte," she said. "The flight was still on until we got through security and then it was cancelled right after that.”

Jan Collins flew in from Charlotte Friday afternoon and then spent hours waiting for her sister, who spent Friday criss-crossing the eastern U.S.  

She started Friday morning in Kentucky.

“They first directed her to Dallas, Fort Worth, and then they changed that this morning to send her to Philadelphia and then to Miami. Now, she is on her way to Orlando."

Airport managers suggest you call directly to the airline to check flight information before you try to fly out of OIA this weekend or if you are picking up a passenger.

They also say if you don't absolutely need to fly into areas hit hard by the storm, you can take advantage of airline rebooking offers and travel a few days from now.