FLIGHTS from Glasgow to Newark were cancelled today and tomorrow and the TransAtlantic flight ban by Continental Airways could be extended into Wednesday.

Airport chiefs also urged passengers to check with airlines first before beginning their journeys.

Hundreds of tourists jet out of Glasgow for London and Dublin to get connecting flights to the States and there are fears that some could end up stranded at airports while America's east coast remains on hurricane alert.

A warning was also posted this morning on Glasgow Airport's website. It read: "Hurricane Sandy is causing flight disruption and cancellations to and from the US East Coast which includes New York, Baltimore, Newark, Washington DC, Boston and Philadelphia.

"We advise passengers due to fly to the area in the next couple of days to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport."

It came as thousands of Britons had their American travel plans wrecked today as destructive Hurricane Sandy bore down on the US East Coast.

British Airways had to axe all its flights to and from New York, Newark, Baltimore, Washington DC, Boston and Philadelphia.

This amounted to around 20 return flights, with a decision due to be made later today about tomorrow's BA services to and from cities along the American East Coast.

Virgin Atlantic also had to scrap its East Coast services today, cancelling flights to and from New York, Newark, Boston and Washington DC.

Virgin also axed flights from Newark and New York that had been due to arrive at Heathrow tomorrow morning.

A Virgin spokeswoman said: "Our flights to America had been very busy at the beginning of this week due to the half-term school holiday.

"It's very unfortunate this major storm has come when it has."

A BA spokesman said: "We'll be in contact later with our people in America before deciding on tomorrow's US East Coast flights."