Update: January 27, 2026, at 8:10 a.m. ET
The travel industry is still feeling the impact of Winter
Storm Fern, as airports across affected portions of the United States are still
battling massive snow piles and ice that is melting slow due to low temperatures.
According to FlightAware.com, 1,407
flights within, into, or out of the U.S. have been canceled on Tuesday (as of 8
a.m. ET), while another 907 have been delayed. Those totals are expected to
climb throughout the day.
“The last 48 hours have been incredibly challenging for
those flying through Winter Storm Fern, which continues to present travel
challenges across the country,” American Chief Customer Officer Heather
Garboden said. “On behalf of everyone at American, I want to assure you it’s
been all hands-on deck to keep our operation moving.”
On Monday, 6,261 flights were canceled and 7,912 were
delayed. The issues started on Sunday, as 11,599 flights were canceled and 5,866
were delayed.
*This article will no longer be updated.
Update: January 26, 2026, at 8:10 a.m. ET
Winter Storm Fern may be over, but millions of people felt its
impact and travelers taking to the roads of skies on Monday will continue to
deal with the aftermath.
According to Weather.com,
heavy snow, sleet, ice, and high winds were recorded throughout much of the
United States on Sunday, with the storm impacting destinations from New Mexico
to New England, with at least 24 states declaring emergencies. Several deaths
have also been attributed to Winter Storm Fern.
For travelers taking to the skies, FlightAware.com is
reporting that 3,745 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. have been
canceled on Monday (as of 8 a.m. ET), while another 1,024 have been delayed. Those
totals are expected to climb throughout the day.
On Sunday, 11,599 flights were canceled and 5,866 were
delayed.
Update: January
25, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET
Air travel across
the United
States remains severely disrupted as Winter
Storm Fern continues to impact major airport hubs, triggering one of the
largest cancellation events since the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time of publication,
around 11,000 flights were canceled on Sunday, marking the highest single-day
total in years, while more than 2,500 additional flights had already been
canceled for Monday, according to flight-tracking data from FlightAware.
Major hubs across
the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic were especially hard hit. By midday Sunday, 94
percent of flights at Philadelphia
International Airport and 91 percent at the New
York area’s LaGuardia were canceled, while roughly 79 percent of flights at
JFK were grounded. At Washington,
D.C.’s Reagan National Airport, virtually all departing flights — about 420
in total — were canceled for the day.
The data shows
that American
Airlines canceled more than 1,500 flights (47 percent of its daily schedule),
Delta
Air Lines over 1,400 (44 percent), Southwest
Airlines over 1,300 (33 percent), United
Airlines around 1,000 (36 percent) and JetBlue
nearly 600 flights (72 percent).
Experts warn that
the ripple effects are expected to continue even as weather conditions improve.
AccuWeather
warned that airlines will need time to reposition aircraft and crews, meaning
disruptions could linger into the start of the week. Deicing operations are
also slowing airport turnaround times, contributing to ongoing delays.
While most major
U.S. carriers have issued travel waivers, allowing passengers to change flights
without penalty, recovery may take days. Aviation expert and Dartmouth
professor Vikrant Vaze told AP
Newsthat the sheer scale of the disruption across multiple airline
networks means cascading delays will likely continue well beyond the storm’s
immediate impact.
Original Text
The powerful winter storm sweeping across much of the United States this weekend has wreaked havoc on air travel, forcing widespread flight cancellations and delays at airports nationwide.
As of Saturday morning, nearly 10,000 flights scheduled across the country have already been canceled due to heavy snow, ice and dangerous weather conditions, with more disruptions expected as the system moves eastward.
Air travel hubs from the South to the Northeast — including Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, Nashville, Washington, D.C., and New York — are reporting significant impacts. Major carriers have started adjusting schedules and canceling flights at key airports to prioritize safety amid deteriorating conditions.
Delta Air Lines, for example, has proactively canceled flights in regions such as the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, and anticipates further disruptions at its Atlanta and Northeast hubs as the storm intensifies.
A broad swath of cancellations — from Texas through New England — means that many travelers with flights this weekend could see hours-long delays or outright scrapped trips. Airlines have responded by issuing travel waivers that let passengers change their itineraries without penalty, and many are encouraging customers to check flight status frequently and adjust plans as conditions evolve.
Beyond outright cancellations, delays are widespread as crews contend with snow removal, de-icing, and limited visibility that slow airport operations. With winter storm warnings covering a massive portion of the country, aviation officials warn that ripple effects — including postponed departures and extended gate holds — will likely continue through Monday.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
