Large portions of the East Coast, stretching from Maryland to Maine, were placed under blizzard warnings as heavy snowfall and strong winds intensified. Parts of New Jersey and Long Island, New York, reported snow accumulations approaching two feet. The National Weather Service warned that high wind gusts and blowing snow would significantly reduce visibility, making travel conditions dangerous throughout the day.
According to aviation data firm Cirium, more than 4,800 US departures had been canceled by Monday morning, representing nearly one-fifth of all scheduled flights. On a typical day, cancellations account for about 1 percent of departures. International travel was also heavily affected, with nearly a quarter of inbound flights into the United States called off.
Airports in the Northeast experienced the most severe impacts. At New York’s LaGuardia Airport, roughly 98 percent of scheduled departures and arrivals were canceled. Boston Logan International Airport saw more than 90 percent of its flights scrubbed, while Philadelphia International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport each reported cancellations exceeding 80 percent of their schedules.
The disruption is expected to linger. Early data indicated that about 40 percent of flights at both LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airport were already canceled for Tuesday, with Boston facing similar reductions. Airlines typically preemptively cancel flights ahead of major storms to prevent aircraft and crew from being stranded in affected locations and to speed up operational recovery once conditions improve.
Major carriers, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines, issued travel waivers allowing passengers to rebook without additional fees. Southwest Airlines also announced flexible rebooking options, permitting customers to change flights or travel standby within a two-week window.
The latest storm follows a series of winter weather events that have strained airline operations across the country. Earlier this year, a major cold-weather system triggered widespread travel disruptions and exposed recovery challenges for some carriers. American Airlines previously reported that January’s storm-related disruptions cost the company between $150 million and $200 million in revenue, underscoring the significant financial impact severe winter weather can have on the aviation industry.
With hazardous conditions expected to persist, travelers across the Northeast have been advised to monitor flight updates closely and prepare for continued delays as airlines work to restore normal operations.
