Travellers grounded due to storm in US East Coast

A major snow storm has forced hundreds of flight cancellations at US airports, creating travel misery as thousands return home after Christmas.

As of Monday morning, the three major New York-area airports - Newark, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy remained closed. Newark was scheduled to reopen at noon ET, LaGuardia at 2 p.m. ET and JFK at 4 p.m. ET Monday.

American Airlines cancelled 171 Monday flights in and out of major airports from Washington through Boston. Those cancellations follow more than 262 flights that the airline cancelled Sunday.

Continental Airlines cancelled 265 departures, primarily from Newark Liberty International Airport, outside New York. It warned, though that most domestic and international flights later Sunday through mid-morning Monday would be cancelled due to the disruption at its main hub.

United Airlines has already cancelled 110 flights - in Boston, Philadelphia and the three main New York airports: Newark, LaGuardia and John F Kennedy International.

A blizzard warning for parts of New England is in effect through Monday evening. Parts of the East Coast could get up to 16 inches of snow and wind gusts of up to 60 mph