Missed trips due to severe winter cost US fliers US$5b

[NEW YORK] Severe winter weather cost US airline passengers US$5.3 billion in expenses and missed workdays as carriers cancelled and delayed trips in the worst period of flight disruption since Sept 11.

The cost to airlines may be as much as US$500 million on increased operating expenses and lost revenue, according to industry data tracker MasFlight. Cancellations from Dec 1 through Feb 28 totalled 108,600, almost double the average of previous winters of 57,600.

MasFlight's estimate offers a glimpse at the economic toll from snow and storms that pummelled a broad swath of the country this winter, disrupting travel plans for more than 90 million people. United Continental Holdings Inc has signalled a key revenue gauge will be lower this quarter as a result.