JetBlue Airways Corp. became the first large airline to reshuffle its schedule ahead of Hurricane Irene’s East Coast landfall, canceling 882 flights from tomorrow through Aug. 29.

Most of the flights are at New York’s John F. Kennedy airport, the carrier’s biggest base, and in Boston on Aug. 28-29, said Allison Steinberg, a spokeswoman. That’s when high winds and heavy rains are expected to sweep through the U.S. Northeast.

Irene is forecast to plow through the busiest airspace in the U.S., threatening operations at carriers including United Continental Holdings Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc. The storm’s projected track runs past New York City, Boston, Washington and Philadelphia, home to a total of seven major airports.

“You’re affecting all the major airports on the northeastern seaboard,” said David Swierenga, a former chief economist at the Air Transport Association trade group who now runs consultant AeroEcon in Round Rock, Texas. “The number of flights that they have at those airports per day is very high. I expect this will be a major disruption.”

More cancellations will follow JetBlue’s as Irene’s approach allows airlines to pinpoint airports at the most risk. The industry’s preparations will include relocating planes out of harm’s way, a step that minimizes damage while adding to the complexity of resuming normal schedules after a storm.

(Source: Washington Post)