How Winter Weather Paralyzed JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Air Traffic
Key Points
- 1Nearly 15,000 domestic and international flights were canceled or delayed Saturday due to a Northeast winter storm.
- 2JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International airports were the hardest hit, leading to FAA-mandated ground delays.
- 3The storm's disruption occurred just before Sunday, which was forecast as the busiest travel day of the holiday season.
- 4Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, and American Airlines reported the highest number of cancellations among major carriers.
A severe mix of snow and ice struck the US North-east early Saturday, significantly disrupting post-holiday air traffic.
Officials in both New York and New Jersey declared weather emergencies. This action followed a major surge in flight cancellations and delays across the region's busiest hubs.
Operational Impact on New York New Jersey Airports
More than 14,400 domestic US flights were either canceled or delayed by mid-morning Saturday. The majority of these disruptions centered on the New York metropolitan area. Key affected facilities included John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
Tracking site FlightAware reported these substantial figures. Additionally, another 2,100 international flights scheduled for the US on Saturday were canceled. This created a major bottleneck in the National Airspace System disruption.
Regulatory Response and Ground Delays
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) quickly implemented traffic management programs. These measures included ground stops and ground delays at the major New York New Jersey airports. Flights into JFK saw average delays of about two hours Saturday morning. Ground delays were also in place at LGA and EWR through midday Saturday.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged extreme caution throughout the storm's duration. New Jersey's acting governor, Tahesha Way, advised travelers to avoid travel. This was due to treacherous road conditions, which also impacted airport access.
Airline and Passenger Challenges
The winter weather air traffic chaos hit major carriers hard. Delta Air Lines led with 205 cancellations on Saturday, according to FlightAware data. Other airlines with significant cancellations included JetBlue (167), Southwest (83), Republic (78), and American Airlines (65).
- Airlines must manage complex de-icing procedures and crew logistics.
- Airports deployed snow removal and de-icing teams for runway safety.
- Passengers faced long wait times and the need to rebook flights.
The storm occurred during a peak travel period. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expected the following day, Sunday, to be the busiest travel day of the year. Approximately 2.86 million passengers were forecast to fly. This high volume amplified the impact of the storm's delays. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) stresses the importance of coordinated winter operations planning. Aircraft manufacturers like Boeing also provide guidance on cold weather operations.
Recovery Outlook
By Saturday mid-morning, the heaviest snow had largely passed. The National Weather Service (NWS) expected only light flurries to remain, tapering off by the afternoon. However, the cascading effects of the delays and cancellations were expected to persist. The cumulative system strains ripple through the entire National Airspace System. Travelers were strongly advised to check flight statuses frequently. They should also monitor official advisories from the FAA.
For more updates on commercial aviation news and industry developments, visit flying.flights.
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