Why Did Winter Storm Fern Ground Thousands of US Airline Flights?

A massive weather system, Winter Storm Fern, severely disrupted US airline operations over the weekend of January 24-25, 2026. The storm brought heavy snow, freezing rain, and extreme cold across the eastern two-thirds of the nation. This led to widespread flight cancellations that crippled air travel from the South to the Northeast.

According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, approximately 8,900 US flights were canceled on January 25 alone. This represented 38% of the country's total scheduled flights for the day. Flight-tracking data indicated that over 10,000 flights were canceled through Monday. This made January 25 one of the most disruptive days for air travel since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Airline Impact and Cancellation Statistics

The impact was not uniform across all carriers. However, several major airlines were forced to scrub large portions of their schedules. JetBlue Airways was among the most severely affected carriers. The airline canceled a staggering 70% to 75% of its total schedule on Sunday.

American Airlines and Delta Air Lines also faced significant operational challenges. American Airlines canceled 57% of its total schedule, with regional services seeing even higher rates. Delta Air Lines canceled 47% of its schedule, representing a combined total of over 5,000 cancellations with American. Other major carriers, including United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, also reported hundreds of cancellations.

Key Hubs and Airport Closures

Operations at major East Coast airports came to a near-standstill. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) was the hardest hit, canceling about 95% of its flights on Sunday. Other critical hubs in the Northeast, including Boston Logan, and the New York City-area airports—John F. Kennedy (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA), and Newark Liberty (EWR)—saw hundreds of flights canceled.

Disruptions extended far beyond the immediate snow zone. Hubs in the South and Midwest also faced knock-on effects. Airports in Atlanta (ATL), Charlotte (CLT), and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) experienced major delays and cancellations. This was due to aircraft and crew falling out of position across the national network.

Industry Response and Economic Fallout

Major US carriers, including American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, proactively issued airline travel waivers. These waivers allowed customers to rebook without change fees. This strategy aimed to minimize the aviation disruption and manage the flow of stranded passengers. Delta, for instance, moved cold-weather experts to southern airports to support de-icing operations.

• Proactive Schedule Thinning: Airlines deliberately reduced their schedules ahead of the storm. This was a key lesson learned from previous operational meltdown events, such as the December 2022 Southwest Airlines crisis.
• Economic Impact: Analysts estimate the direct economic hit from the storm's travel and supply-chain delays could exceed US$300 million.
• Recovery Challenge: The widespread nature of the storm means the air travel recovery will be complex. Repositioning aircraft and crews will take several days. This will likely cause continuing delays and cancellations into the following week.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinated closely with airlines and airports. Their goal was to manage air traffic flow safely amid the severe weather conditions. Nearly 20 US states and Washington, DC, declared weather emergencies. This underscores the storm's severity and its impact on the nation's infrastructure.

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