STORM FORCES US CARRIERS TO CANCEL MORE FLIGHT

The large US airlines cancelled more than 5,500 flights – 18% of the day’s scheduled flights – yesterday as the severe snow storm paralysed air travel. United Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc and American Airlines all suspended operations at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. “We’re totally out of Chicago today, 920 cancellations in and out,” said American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith. “Operations in New York (are) ramping up somewhat this afternoon.” United, which merged last year with Continental, scrapped nearly 1,900 flights between the two airlines. Delta said it cancelled more than 1,175 flights; American cancelled 1,587; US Airways Group cancelled