Airline Cancels 220 Flights After Running Low on De-Icer

Southwest axed all flights from Chicago airport
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 12, 2018 12:03 AM CST
Southwest Cancels 220 Flights After Running Out of De-Icer
A Southwest plane is de-iced at Chicago Midway International Airport.   (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

Thousands of travelers booked on Southwest Airlines flights out of Chicago's Midway Airport had to change their plans after the airline found out that it didn't have enough de-icing fluid—for the second time this winter. An airline spokesperson said Southwest had "actively worked to manage" its level of glycol, which is used to de-ice aircraft, but "proactively" canceled at least 220 flights Sunday after levels ran low, USA Today reports. Midway Airport said a total of 250 flights were canceled after an icy storm, suggesting other airlines were also affected, though operations are expected to return to normal Monday, the Chicago Tribune reports. Forbes notes that the same thing happened in December, when Southwest canceled at least 90 flights from Midway due to de-icing issues. (More Southwest Airlines stories.)

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