The United States is experiencing a severe winter storm that has led to widespread flight cancellations and delays nationwide, affecting nearly 180 million people over the weekend. According to flight-tracking service FlightAware, more than 11,400 flights were canceled on Saturday alone, predominantly in the Northeast.
The storm brought freezing temperatures, snow, sleet, and cold rain across a broad stretch from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England, the National Weather Service reported. By Sunday, the storm had moved into the US Northeast, with forecasts predicting 1 to 2 feet of snow from Washington to Boston and New York.
Flight Impacts and Future Outlook
As of Monday, over 3,000 flights scheduled for the day have already been canceled, with major airports experiencing significant disruptions. Boston Logan International Airport reported a 60% cancellation rate for Monday, while New York’s LaGuardia and JFK airports saw cancellations exceeding 40%. Newark Liberty International Airport canceled around 33% of its flights. For Tuesday, approximately 34 flights had been canceled at the time of reporting.
This winter storm marks the largest flight cancellation event in the US since the COVID-19 pandemic, surpassing disruptions seen during airspace closures in December following the US attack on Venezuela, which caused holiday travel chaos.
Major Airports and Airlines Affected
Key airports hit hardest include New York’s LaGuardia, which was closed Sunday afternoon under FAA directives, grounding all flights until 8 pm. Other heavily impacted airports include Philadelphia (94% cancellations), John F. Kennedy International Airport (80%), and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which canceled all departing flights for the day.
Airlines such as American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, United, and JetBlue have all reported thousands of cancellations. American Airlines canceled over 1,790 flights (55%), Delta over 1,470, Southwest more than 1,340, United around 1,016, and JetBlue over 590 flights (72%).
Passenger Guidance and Refund Policies
Travelers affected by cancellations are advised to contact their airlines directly—either at the airport or online—to explore rebooking options. Airlines typically rebook passengers on later flights at no extra charge, depending on seat availability.
Passengers seeking alternative arrangements can attempt to be placed on partner airlines, though this is not guaranteed. If a flight is canceled, travelers are entitled to a full refund, regardless of ticket type. Refunds also apply to additional fees such as baggage charges or seat upgrades that were not utilized.
