An A380 in Newburgh, And Other Crazy Diversions From the Bomb Cyclone
Thursday's "bomb cyclone" left air travel throughout much of the US Northeast at a standstill. In total, airlines canceled more than 4,300 flights on Thursday, with delays and cancellations carrying over into Friday. With the cancellations also came a complete shutdown of New York JFK among other airports, which snarled traffic even more: Some already-airborne aircraft that were presumably trying to beat out the storm were left with having to find a different airport to land.
TPG contributor Jason Rabinowitz monitored the situation and documented many of his findings on Twitter. Around 11:00am ET on Thursday, JFK suspended flights due to strong winds and whiteout conditions.
As a result, a number of flights already en route to JFK were forced to divert. According to Flightaware, there were at least 96 diversions across the East Coast of the US.
Among the diversions, arguably the most notable was a Singapore Airlines A380, the largest passenger plane. For JFK, which receives several A380 flights every day, dealing with 500-seat giant is no trouble. The biggest of New York's airports is well equipped to handle such a mammoth aircraft, with a wing span of 262 feet. But the small airport where a Singapore Airlines A380 was forced to land on Thursday definitely isn't.
As SQ Flight 26 from Singapore via Frankfurt (FRA) to JFK was closing in on its final destination, the aircraft was forced to divert, as JFK had suspended operations. The A380, which was carrying 325 passengers, landed safely at Stewart International Airport (SWF) in Newburgh, NY, about 80 miles north of New York City. The 11,800-foot runway is plenty enough for the giant, but the jetways at the gates can't reach the aircraft, and passengers were forced to deplane via a set of stairs.
According to Singapore Airlines, the aircraft will eventually fly from SWF to JFK, before returning to Frankfurt. Seeing an A380 on a 80-mile hop isn't exactly common.
While not an A380, the Albany airport also got to handle a big jet it would never have seen otherwise: a Boeing 787-9 operating Norwegian Air Flight 7013, from London (LGW) to JFK, whose captain decided to divert to Albany International (ALB).
According to the Albany Times Union, the more than 300 people on board the Norwegian Dreamliner cleared customs and immigration at ALB. The passengers then boarded buses, which got them to JFK, their intended destination — a journey that takes three hours when the weather is good. The airline said that it would fly the Dreamliner down to JFK on Friday, where passengers would then be able to collect their luggage.
The Norwegian Air diversion marks the first time the small airport in New York state's capital has handled a Dreamliner. In the past, a 777 from Beijing (PEK) also diverted to ALB, so this isn't the first wide-body the airport has seen. It's also the first time a Norwegian Air aircraft has landed at the airport.
There were also a number of diversions to larger airports that are better equipped to handle the wide-body aircraft. More than 30 flights scheduled to land at JFK, Newark (EWR) or Philadelphia (PHL) were diverted to Washington (IAD). Other flights that were scheduled to land in the region were diverted to other hub airports, such as Atlanta (ATL) and Chicago (ORD).
And then, there were the "flights to nowhere." Several US-bound flights coming from Europe tried to make the trek, but ultimately turned back around for their original destination. For example, Iberia Flight 6253 from Madrid (MAD) to New York was more than four hours into the flight before the captain decided to head back to the original departure airport.
With the worst of the storm now over, many airlines are hoping to return to normal operations by this weekend. On Friday, travelers should expect some residual delays and cancellations. And if you have a flight to, from or through the East Coast on Friday or Saturday, call ahead to check with your flight's status before heading to the airport.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.