Airlines Cancel More Than 1,500 U.S. Flights as Northeast Braces for Heavy Snow

Airlines scrubbed more than 1,500 flights across the United States on Friday as a fast-moving winter storm targeted the Northeast during one of the peak travel periods of the year. The widespread disruptions came just as millions of passengers were beginning holiday journeys, forcing carriers to adjust schedules and activate flexible rebooking policies.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for New York City, northern New Jersey and Long Island starting Friday afternoon. Meteorologists said snowfall could reach 9 inches, with the heaviest accumulation expected overnight. Blustery winds and reduced visibility were forecast to complicate ground operations at major airports throughout the region.

High cancellation rates at key hubs

Flight-tracking data showed that by 5 p.m. ET Friday, more than 370 flights—representing over one-quarter of the daily schedule—had been canceled at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Newark Liberty International registered above 240 cancellations, while Philadelphia International logged more than 140. LaGuardia Airport, Boston Logan International and other Northeast gateways also reported elevated disruption levels as airlines repositioned aircraft or opted to keep planes on the ground.

Additional pre-emptive cuts were already posted for Saturday. Airlines removed 125 departures, or roughly 20% of the day’s schedule, from Kennedy Airport. Newark Liberty lost 69 flights, accounting for 10% of its planned departures, and LaGuardia’s schedule was trimmed by about 80 flights, equaling 20% of its total. Carriers indicated that further adjustments were possible if snowfall intensity or runway conditions deteriorated overnight.

Flexible rebooking policies

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and several regional operators enacted weather waivers covering dozens of airports across the Northeast corridor. Under the waivers, customers holding the most restrictive basic economy tickets can change itineraries without the customary fee. Travelers booked in other fare classes may shift departure dates without paying a fare difference, provided that new travel begins on or before Dec. 31.

Seats remain scarce during the final week of December, and industry officials said passengers aiming to switch flights should act quickly. Early-morning departures typically recover first once runways reopen, but limited aircraft availability could constrain options at the height of the Christmas rush.

Record holiday demand

Airlines for America, the main industry trade group, projects that carriers will fly an all-time high of 52.6 million passengers between Dec. 19 and Jan. 5. The group identifies Friday and Sunday of the current week as two of the busiest days, intensifying the operational challenge for airlines dealing with adverse weather. Load factors are expected to be particularly tight on transcontinental routes and flights to Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean.

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Proactive strategy to limit knock-on effects

Commercial airlines increasingly cancel flights in advance when reliable forecasts signal disruptive weather. By taking aircraft out of the rotation early, operators aim to prevent crews and passengers from becoming stranded out of position, which can trigger a chain reaction of delays across the network. Although advance cancellations inconvenience travelers, the strategy generally reduces the duration and geographic spread of disruptions compared with last-minute groundings.

The current storm follows a series of operational stress tests for U.S. carriers, including severe thunderstorms in the summer and heavy fog events in the fall. Executives have said that additional staffing, upgraded de-icing equipment and refined crew-scheduling technology should help them recover more quickly than in previous winters. Nevertheless, airport authorities urged travelers to monitor flight status, allow extra time for security screening and anticipate weather-related traffic delays on access roads.

With further snow bands possible through early Saturday, airlines are monitoring conditions in Boston, Hartford, Providence and other secondary airports that could see operational impacts. Decisions on Sunday schedules will hinge on runoff rates, ramp conditions and the availability of rested flight crews. Passengers were advised to confirm itineraries directly with airlines and to sign up for automatic text or email notifications before heading to the airport.

Crédito da imagem: Bloomberg via Getty Images