Hurricane Beryl has severely disrupted travel plans across the state, particularly as many people were wrapping up their July Fourth holiday weekend. Hundreds of flights have been canceled in and out of Houston and along the Texas coast. As Beryl continues northward through East Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, airports in its path are preparing for more delays and cancellations.
The impact of the storm and the holiday rush is already evident in North Texas, where travelers returning to Houston find themselves stranded at airports like Dallas-Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field.
“I was at a wedding, and now everyone either stuck in Colorado or driving back because our flights were canceled, changed, or delayed,” said Monica Valdez, a Houston resident stranded at DFW. “I just want to get back to Houston, but at least I’m back in Texas now. That’s something.”
According to FlightAware, Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport leads the nation in canceled flights, with more than 2,300 affected by 10 p.m. on Monday. Hobby Airport also faced over 300 cancellations by noon.
By Tuesday morning, Bush Intercontinental Airport saw nearly 300 more cancellations, while DFW International Airport reported 29 canceled flights. United Airlines topped the list with over 500 canceled flights on Monday, closely followed by Dallas-based Southwest Airlines with about 360 cancellations.
Mia Aquirre, trying to return to Corpus Christi for summer school, found herself stuck at DFW Airport: “Thankfully, I have family here. But being a college student, imagine the cost out of pocket. It’s inconvenient for everyone, but safety is the priority. I’m just hoping to get back home and start classes on Tuesday, though with the hurricane, I’m a bit worried.”
DFW Airport reported nearly 1,000 delays and over 100 cancellations by 10 p.m. on Monday, while Dallas Love Field had more than 100 delays and over 30 cancellations.
Airlines have issued travel alerts due to Beryl and waived change fees for affected travelers. The TSA also reported record-breaking travel volumes this summer, screening over three million passengers on multiple peak days, including a new single-day record on July 7.
