Southwest cancels hundreds of flights in advance of winter storm

In anticipation of this weekend's winter storm, Southwest Airlines is canceling all flights to and from Baltimore Washington International Airport beginning Friday afternoon.

Southwest spokesman Paul Flaningan said more than 100 flights will be affected by the halt in service at BWI. The airline is also canceling flights at Dulles International and Philadelphia International, beginning at about the same time. The airline will cease operations at BWI around 2 p.m. Friday and resume Sunday morning, provided that weather conditions allow.

"If the weather remains bad we will extend the cancellations," Flaningan said.

He said Southwest customers holding reservations will be able to reschedule their trips without paying fees and will be charged the same fare that they paid originally. Customers have 14 days to rebook travel.

A spokesman for AirTran said no flights have been cancelled in advance so far, but the airline expects to make a decision about their schedule before Friday.

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