PHOTOS - Hurricane Sandy batters the east coast of the United States

Aer Lingus has cancelled more flights to America in the wake of Storm Sandy – with the family of Batten disease sufferer Liam Heffernan postponing his return to New York.

Liam was due to make a return visit to the Weill Cornell University in New York, the hospital where he received pioneering treatment for Batten disease.

The incurable illness claimed the life of Liam’s five-year-old sister Saoirse last year.

He was due to travel from his Kerry home to New York to be assessed by specialists at the university.

Liam’s parents Tony and Mary believe his assessment after treatment would help other children suffering from the rare inherited degenerative disorder of the nervous system.

They have postponed their trip however as Storm Sandy takes hold of New York.

The Irish Independent reports that their decision came as Irish state airline Aer Lingus confirmed it will cancel more flights on Tuesday as Hurricane Sandy continues its destructive path along the north-east coast of America.

Aer Lingus does hope to operate flights to and from Chicago, Orlando and Boston on Tuesday, subject to weather conditions.

Already eight flights to and from New York have been cancelled.

Flights EI-109 Dublin to New York and EI-108 New York to Dublin are scheduled to operate but this is also subject to change.

A spokesman said: “We plan to operate some flights to New York later on Tuesday but this is subject to the weather.

“We cancelled all 10 of our flights on Monday to and from New York and Boston.”

Three US airlines also cancelled flights to Philadelphia, New York and Boston.

PHOTOS - Hurricane Sandy batters the east coast of the United States