Air France cancels US flights due to Hurricane Sandy

Air France has cancelled all flights to or from New York and Washington due to Hurricane Sandy. But the airline is still flying to Boston, according to its website.

Reuters/Adrees Latif

“Due to Hurricane Sandy heading towards the north-east coast of the United States, we are compelled to cancel all our flights to and from Washington Dulles and New York

Kennedy on 30 Tuesday 2012,” the Air France site announced on Tuesdsay morning.

The airline advises passengers not to go to the airports concerned and suggests they put off their journey until 7 November, although it also offers to refund.

British Airways has also cancelled 11 return flights to New York, Newark, Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia, while Virgin Atlantic has cancelled flights to Newark and New York JFK.

At least 13 people have been killed by the storm and more than 12,000 flights to or from the US have been cancelled.

US President Barack Obama has declared a “major disaster” in the states of New York and New Jersey.

The storm has weakened as it moves inland but forecasters still warn of gale-force winds and flooding along the densely-populated coast, where a massive fire broke out in New York City and a levee broke in New Jersey.