Flying out of Sky Harbor? Beware, Sandy is causing cancellations

PHOENIX - For some travelers, Hurricane Sandy has caused major headaches, but for others, the storm has forced them to extend their vacation.

"We're just visiting, but we now know Arizona better than the natives do," giggled Mary Ellen Consoli while inside Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor Airport.

Consoli and her husband were supposed to fly home to Boston on Sunday night but the flight was canceled, as were several others.

"So we came back yesterday, rescheduled our flight for today (Monday), then rescheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday), then we got a text saying our flight for tomorrow had been canceled, so we came back here and we're told the earliest we can get out is Friday," said Consoli while standing next to her husband.

Dozens of flights in and out of Sky Harbor have been canceled due to Sandy and more are expected. Hundreds of passengers flying through the airport have been impacted.

According to the Associated Press, the airport's two major carriers, US Airways and Southwest Airlines canceled at least 30 departures on Monday and US Airways has canceled all Tuesday flights to and from 22 airports on the East Coast which include Philadelphia, Boston, New York and Washington D.C.

"Well if you've got to be stranded this is a good place," said Dick Consoli, smiling and holding his wife's hand.

The Consolis told ABC15 they may spend the rest of their unexpected vacation by driving to visit relatives in California.

Sky Harbor International Airport is the nation's ninth busiest airport.

It's expected even after Sandy passes through the East Coast, it could take several days for airlines to get back on track.