A severe winter storm is causing significant economic disruption across the United States during the peak Christmas holiday season, with over 1,500 flight cancellations reported. The storm, affecting an area with more than 40 million people under weather advisories, is placing considerable strain on airlines, which face revenue losses and increased operational costs for de-icing and re-routing. Major transport hubs, particularly in the Midwest, are experiencing severe operational challenges, leading to cascading delays that could have a prolonged financial impact on the aviation sector and affect consumer spending in local economies due to stranded travellers and disrupted plans.
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