Severe disruptions hit air travel across the United States as a powerful Nor’easter unleashes one of the season’s largest snowstorms, affecting the mid-Atlantic to New England region. Leading the pack in cancellations are New York-area airports, especially LaGuardia Airport, where a staggering 43 percent of departing flights have been called off.
The impact is widespread, with over 1,400 flights canceled and nearly 700 delayed, according to data from FlightAware. LaGuardia Airport and Boston Logan International Airport bear the brunt, with 43 percent and 27 percent of flights canceled, respectively.
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For travelers scheduled to fly on this day, staying informed is crucial. Major domestic carriers, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines, have issued travel advisories, offering waivers for change fees and fare differences to facilitate flight postponements.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a ground stop at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport at 9 a.m. ET, and further ground stops or delay programs are anticipated after 11 a.m. ET at various airports, including Boston, Newark, New York-LaGuardia, Teterboro, Philadelphia, Washington-Dulles, Washington-Reagan, and Baltimore.
Deicing measures at affected airports are contributing to delays in aircraft turnaround times. As of Tuesday morning, regional carriers Republic and Endeavor Air have canceled 32 percent of their flights. JetBlue, a major domestic airline with hubs in Boston and New York, leads among major carriers in cancellations.
The winter weather is hitting the New York City area the hardest, starting with freezing rain on Monday night and accumulating 1.4 inches of snow by early Tuesday morning. A winter storm watch remains in effect until 6 p.m., with an expected snowfall of five to eight inches throughout the day.
Beyond the Northeast, below-freezing temperatures and arctic wind chills are sweeping across the country, reaching from the Rocky Mountains to the Midwest, as reported by Reuters. Travelers are advised to check their airline’s app for the latest updates, as the situation evolves throughout the day.