CHICAGO, Illinois – Dense fog caused travel chaos at both Chicago international airports- O’Hare and Midway- on Christmas Eve, resulting in over 50 flights being grounded and leaving holiday travelers stranded. The National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory for the entire Chicago area, which initially expired at 9 a.m. but was later extended to 12 p.m. due to heavy fog.

Midway Airport reported around 50 flight cancellations and increasing delays as the FAA issued a ground stop until 10:30 a.m. Meanwhile, O’Hare airport had only 15 canceled flights with minimal delays. Southwest Airlines, which operates heavily in Chicago, had to cancel approximately 70 flights at Midway, affecting more than 200 departures scheduled over the holiday weekend.

The airline issued a statement saying, “We’re working with our customers whose travel is impacted by fog at Chicago Midway that began Saturday night and prevented inbound aircraft from landing, forcing some diversions and subsequent flight cancellations. We have all hands on deck as our employees are working to quickly take care of our customers and accommodate them on alternative flights.”

In addition to the weather delays, a user on social media posted that pro-Palestinian protesters had shut down the entrance to O’Hare Airport early Christmas Eve morning. This unexpected disturbance added to the travel woes of those already affected by the fog-related flight cancellations and delays.

Overall, the fog-induced travel disruptions at Chicago’s airports left hundreds of travelers stuck for the holidays, with Southwest Airlines experiencing the brunt of the flight cancellations at Midway. The dense fog, along with the unforeseen protest, compounded the challenges for holiday travelers, highlighting the unpredictability and frustrations that can arise during peak travel times.