Storm cancels most flights at Philadelphia International Airport

SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia International Airport remained open Tuesday but most flights were cancelled.

Crews worked all morning to clear the runways as the airlines work to get back on track.

Some flights were departing and arriving, but things won't be back to normal until Wednesday at the earliest.

Many airlines are waiving cancellation fees.

"Last night I was pretty worried," said Joyce Saracen of Easthampton, N.J. "My husband kept checking all the flight information."

Flyers were feeling lucky if they got a flight out of Philadelphia.

According to Flight Aware, carriers cancelled about 8,000 flights over the past three days across the country.

Saracen was flying Delta, which was operating most flights on Tuesday.

US Airways and American Airlines expected only a handful of arrivals later Tuesday night, plus a departure to Tel Aviv.

Southwest planned to resume a full schedule Tuesday afternoon

United and Air Canada were taking only one arrival each, and British Airways was operating just one flight.

Philadelphia International officials told Action News only four people slept in the airport overnight.

Jessica Elgamil and her sister Tamra flew in Tuesday morning from Detroit.

"Horrible is how you describe the past couple of days," said Tamra.

Monday they were supposed to fly home from Orlando to Newark, N.J.

Technical problems with the plane and then weather-related cancellations diverted them.

"We're in Philly," she said. "Home is in New Jersey. We have a friend picking us up."

Jet Blue, Frontier and Qatar Airlines have cancelled all flights.

As always call 1-800-PHL-GATE or go online to phl.org before you head out.

Restaurants and retail stores at the airport were not operating at full capacity - only 7 restaurants were open Tuesday at noon.

But Action News is told the airport can open more if travel activity increases.