Why did a winter storm ground hundreds of flights at major Northeast airports?
Key Points
- 1Over 2,100 US flights were canceled since Friday due to a powerful winter storm hitting the Northeast and Great Lakes regions.
- 2New York area airports, including JFK, EWR, and LGA, were the most severely affected, accounting for the majority of the delays and cancellations.
- 3The FAA issued multiple Airspace Flow Programs (AFPs) to restrict traffic, leading to some delays exceeding two hours.
- 4Airlines waived change fees for passengers, managing disruption during the peak post-Christmas travel period.
A powerful winter storm system swept across the US Northeast, causing widespread post-Christmas travel disruptions.
By Saturday morning, the storm had forced the cancellation of 637 flights within, into, or out of the U.S.. An additional 892 flights were delayed nationwide as of 7:50 a.m. ET, according to FlightAware data. This chaos followed a Friday where over 1,700 flights were canceled and more than 8,800 were delayed. The total number of cancellations since Friday exceeded 2,100.
Northeast Airports Bear the Brunt
The New York metropolitan area airports experienced the most significant impact. Northeast airport delays were concentrated at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
- JFK Airport alone saw 77 cancellations and 30 delays by early Saturday.
- Arrivals at JFK were delayed by an average of two hours and 37 minutes.
- EWR and LGA also accounted for a major share of the total cancellations.
Major US carriers were forced to adjust schedules as the storm intensified. Airlines like JetBlue Airways and Delta Air Lines reported the highest number of Christmas flight cancellations. These carriers have large operations across the affected Northeast region. The disruption was compounded by the storm hitting during the busy period between Christmas and New Year’s. This is one of the highest-traffic periods for US aviation. The high passenger volume leaves little room for recovery after a major weather event. Even major international carriers like Emirates can see knock-on effects from delays at US hubs.
Regulatory and Operational Impact
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) took action to manage the air traffic volume. The agency issued multiple Airspace Flow Programs (AFPs). These restrictions limit the number of planes allowed to enter certain airspace sectors. This is done to prevent overcrowding and maintain safety during hazardous conditions. Some reports indicated these FAA airspace restrictions could lead to delays of up to six hours.
Ground operations were also severely affected by the severe weather impact. Reduced visibility and snow-covered runways slowed operations. Mandatory de-icing procedures further lengthened turnaround times for aircraft. The operational challenges affect all aircraft, including those manufactured by companies like Boeing.
Passenger Challenges and Airline Response
Travelers were left stranded at airports, facing limited rebooking options. Many passengers were forced to wait for their next available flight for over a day. In response to the winter storm travel chaos, airlines issued travel advisories. They also waived change and rebooking fees for affected passengers. This policy allows travelers to change their itinerary without financial penalty.
State officials in New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency. They urged residents and travelers to exercise extreme caution. For more information on this and other commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights.
Topics
You Might Also Like
Discover more aviation news based on similar topics
Why did the post-Christmas winter storm cancel thousands of Northeast flights?
JetBlue, Delta, and United face massive operational disruption as a post-Christmas snowstorm cancels over 1,800 US flights, crippling Northeast airports.
Severe Winter Storm Grounds Thousands of US Flights During Peak Holiday Travel Rush
Severe winter storm warnings have forced major airlines like JetBlue and Delta to cancel nearly 1,500 US flights, severely disrupting peak holiday travel.
Record Holiday Travel Surge Triggers Flight Chaos at Major US Airports
Record-breaking holiday air travel has led to thousands of flight delays and cancellations across major US airports, straining the FAA and airline
Massive US Winter Storm Grounds 2,250+ Flights, Declaring Snow Emergency in Northeast
Over 2,250 commercial flights were canceled or delayed across the US Northeast as a massive winter storm prompted snow emergency declarations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
SFO Flight Chaos: Strong Winds and Security Scare Snarl Hundreds of Flights
FAA-mandated ground delays and a Terminal 1 evacuation at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) delayed over 400 flights amid strong winds.
Police Incident and High Winds Cause Major SFO Flight Delays
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) faced massive post-Christmas travel disruption after a Terminal 1 police incident compounded an existing FAA ground delay program, causing
Never Miss Critical Aviation Updates
Get the top aviation stories delivered to your inbox every morning