Flight disruptions are hitting the US hard today, with nearly 3,000 flights delayed and over 880 canceled as of 10:45 a.m. EST, according to FlightAware. This is already surpassing Christmas and Christmas Eve cancellations, which had around 150 canceled flights each.
Affected Airports
The worst-affected airports are in the New York City area, with LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey facing significant delays and cancellations. JFK is the hardest hit, with over 300 cancellations and 100 delays on Friday alone.
A major storm is threatening to bring inches of snow to the region, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to forecast probable ground stops or delays at LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy, Newark, and Teterboro Airport in New Jersey after 4 p.m. EST, as well as Philadelphia International Airport after 5 p.m. EST.
The storm is expected to bring cloudy skies with snow, high around 30F, and winds E at 5 to 10 mph. The chance of snow is 100%, with 1 to 3 inches expected.
Travelers are advised to check their flight status regularly and arrive early at the airport, as deicing operations and weather-related delays are expected to impact flight schedules.
The Northeast corridor is particularly vulnerable to weather disruptions, with many major airports operating near capacity and limited runway configurations making them sensitive to wind shifts, icing, and low cloud ceilings.
JetBlue and other carriers have issued travel alerts and flexible rebooking options for customers affected by the storm.
The storm is not expected to be as extreme as some previous holiday blizzards, but its timing during peak travel and impact on critical hubs means significant delays and localized cancellations are possible.
Travelers booked on single-ticket itineraries from the Midwest or South to Europe via New York or Boston face an elevated risk of misconnecting if their first legs are held for deicing or traffic management.
International flights are also vulnerable, as many transatlantic and long-haul flights rely on New York and Boston as gateways.
Airlines are preparing for potential disruptions, with some already activating Northeast winter weather waivers covering travel through New York’s three principal airports and Philadelphia.
The storm’s exact track and intensity will determine the extent of disruptions, but travelers should plan for delays and cancellations.
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