Severe Winter Storm Forces US Airlines to Cancel More Than 1,000 Flights

U.S. airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights on Friday as a powerful winter storm swept across the country’s Northeast, disrupting travel plans during one of the busiest holiday travel periods of the year.

According to flight-tracking website FlightAware, a total of 1,139 flights were canceled, while 3,808 flights were delayed as of 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The widespread disruptions came as weather authorities warned of dangerous travel conditions across large parts of the region.

The National Weather Service issued winter storm alerts Friday afternoon, cautioning that severe weather would create hazardous travel conditions stretching from the Great Lakes to the North-Central Atlantic and southern New England, with impacts expected to last through early Saturday.

Major airports in affected areas—including John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York, as well as Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport—used social media platform X to warn passengers of possible delays and cancellations, urging travelers to monitor flight updates closely.

Among U.S. carriers, JetBlue Airways recorded the highest number of cancellations, grounding 225 flights. Delta Air Lines followed with 186 canceled flights, while Republic Airways canceled 155 flights. American Airlines reported 96 cancellations, and United Airlines canceled 82 flights, according to FlightAware data.

In a statement to Reuters, a spokesperson for American Airlines said the company had issued a travel alert allowing affected passengers to rebook their flights without incurring change fees, as airlines moved to accommodate travelers impacted by the storm.

The weather-related disruptions highlight the vulnerability of air travel to extreme winter conditions, particularly during peak holiday periods when passenger volumes are at their highest. With forecasts predicting continued adverse weather into Saturday, airlines warned that additional delays and cancellations could follow, advising passengers to check flight statuses before heading to airports.

The storm comes as the U.S. aviation sector continues to manage operational pressures tied to weather volatility, infrastructure constraints, and heightened seasonal demand—factors that together pose ongoing challenges for airlines and travelers alike.