Over 900 Flights Canceled and Delayed Across US as New Storms Disrupt Air Canada, American, United, Delta, Alaska, Spirit, Frontier, and More at JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago During Peak Travel Period

New waves of powerful thunderstorms sweeping across the Northeast and Midwest have caused over 900 flight cancellations and delays across major US airports, disrupting operations for top carriers including Air Canada, American, United, Delta, Alaska, Spirit, and Frontier during the peak travel period. From New York’s JFK and LaGuardia to Chicago O’Hare, Boston Logan, Newark, and Philadelphia, airports struggled to manage severe weather delays as packed summer schedules left airlines with little room to recover. The result was a chaotic travel day affecting tens of thousands of passengers coast to coast.

Airports across the eastern United States descended into chaos today as powerful thunderstorms and relentless wind systems forced over 900 flight cancellations and delays, derailing travel plans for thousands of passengers during the busiest travel season of the year. With airlines already stretched thin due to peak summer crowds, operations were further hampered at major hubs including JFK, Newark, LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Boston Logan, and Chicago O’Hare. Domestic and international carriers scrambled to adjust schedules as weather warnings triggered rolling delays, ground stops, and mounting traveler frustration.

The storm’s timing could not be worse. With July fast approaching and airports moving millions of passengers each week, even minor interruptions now cause massive ripple effects across the network. Today’s disruption hit legacy carriers like American, United, Delta, and Air Canada, as well as low-cost airlines such as Spirit, Frontier, and Alaska Airlines, all of whom faced mounting rebookings and staffing strains.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

New York’s largest airport, JFK, faced significant turbulence with 59 cancellations and 129 delays reported by mid-day. Airlines struggled to maintain schedules as a combination of wind gusts and lightning warnings grounded dozens of departures. Regional carrier Endeavor Air led the disruption with 31 cancellations, while JetBlue, Delta, and American Airlines each recorded sizable delays. Air India, British Airways, and Qatar Airways also faced international service setbacks.

The delays at JFK rippled across both domestic and global networks. Passengers bound for London, Mumbai, and Los Angeles found themselves stuck in terminals as airlines juggled limited gate availability and crew scheduling. Ground teams faced backlogs trying to push aircraft off gates while incoming flights circled longer than usual waiting for clearance to land. With the storm system expected to linger, JFK warned of extended delays well into the evening.

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Newark Liberty was no exception to the storm’s path. The airport logged 23 cancellations and 75 delays, with United Airlines—the airport’s largest operator—hit hardest. United canceled 15 flights and delayed 46 more, including major East Coast routes and long-haul international segments. Carriers like JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and Jazz Aviation also reported disruptions as low clouds and lightning shut down ramp activity multiple times throughout the day.

Travelers at Newark experienced lengthy wait times and last-minute gate changes as operations backed up hour by hour. Several transatlantic departures were delayed into the evening, with crews needing new clearance windows. Meanwhile, rain-soaked runways and flooded access roads added another layer of difficulty, impacting not just aircraft but also passenger access and baggage handling. Despite efforts to recover operations, delays at Newark are expected to extend into tomorrow.

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

In Philadelphia, where thunderstorms swept through in successive waves, 33 flights were canceled and another 96 delayed. The bulk of those belonged to American Airlines, which operates a major hub at PHL. American logged 24 cancellations and 40 delays, with partner airlines like PSA Airlines, Piedmont, and Republic also deeply affected. Storm cells moved in fast, forcing gate holds and delaying turnaround times across the board.

Passengers flying to and from Washington, Charlotte, and other East Coast cities were left waiting on the tarmac or stuck in long customer service queues as rebookings piled up. Low-cost airlines like Spirit, Frontier, and Southwest also reported complications, especially on short-haul leisure routes. As the day progressed, PHL saw operational capacity reduced dramatically, with ripple effects impacting both departing and incoming connections throughout the Northeast.

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

Further north, Boston Logan experienced its own wave of setbacks with 29 cancellations and 91 delays. The brunt of the disruption fell on Cape Air, which canceled 14 flights and delayed 21, affecting regional connectivity across New England. Larger carriers like American Airlines, JetBlue, and United also suffered, each recording both cancellations and multiple delays.

Boston’s terminals were crowded early in the morning as families and international travelers found themselves stranded with few options for immediate rebooking. TAP Air Portugal, Allegiant, and Air France all experienced departures pushed into late afternoon or evening. With thunderstorms limiting visibility and slowing ground handling, even incoming flights faced diversions or extended taxi holds. Logan Airport authorities advised travelers to remain flexible, as departure times continued to fluctuate throughout the day.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

Chicago O’Hare, a central U.S. hub connecting East and West Coast routes, recorded the highest delay volume of the day, with 221 delays and 21 cancellations. American Airlines, GoJet, Envoy Air, and SkyWest each logged dozens of delayed flights, while United Airlines and Delta struggled to recover lost time across multiple departure banks. Regional and international partners—including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines—also reported network slowdowns.

Though less directly affected by the East Coast storms, Chicago’s role as a key connector meant it absorbed a cascade of knock-on delays. Flights inbound from New York and Boston arrived late, forcing airlines to shift crew rosters and adjust outbound slots. The result was a full day of staggered schedules, with evening flights still being pushed back hours after the weather had cleared.

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

LaGuardia Airport in New York faced one of the busiest operational loads today, with 29 flight cancellations and a significant 169 delays triggered by the same storm front sweeping through the Northeast. The weather caused backlogs on taxiways and limited visibility, forcing flight crews and ground staff into delay management mode throughout the day. Endeavor Air, a key Delta Connection operator, canceled 10 flights and delayed 30 more, while Republic Airways, American Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit all saw their schedules thrown off track.

Passengers flying short-haul routes from LaGuardia to destinations like Washington D.C., Charlotte, and Boston experienced rolling delays, while connections to Chicago and Florida saw cascading impact from previous disruptions. Southwest Airlines reported over 34 delays without any cancellations, a testament to its high-frequency East Coast operations being slowed but not halted. LaGuardia’s terminals remained crowded with travelers waiting on updated departure boards and airline rebooking queues stretched for hours.

Here is the detailed list of disrupted airlines organized airport-wise, showing cancellations and delays per carrier where available:

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Total: 59 cancellations, 129 delays
Cause: Thunderstorm and wind

• Endeavor Air – 31 canceled, 24 delayed
• JetBlue – 19 canceled, 32 delayed
• Delta Air Lines – 2 canceled, 26 delayed
• American Airlines – 2 canceled, 11 delayed
• Republic Airways – 0 canceled, 7 delayed
• Jazz – 1 canceled
• All Nippon Airways (ANA) – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Alaska Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• British Airways – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Caribbean Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Cayman Airways – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Cathay Pacific – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Etihad Airways – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• EVA Air – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Hawaiian Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Japan Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Cape Air – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• EuroAtlantic Airways – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Neos – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Philippine Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Qatar Airways – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Sun Country Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Singapore Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• TAP Air Portugal – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Emirates – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Virgin Atlantic – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Air France – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Air India – 0 canceled, 2 delayed

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Total: 23 cancellations, 75 delays
Cause: Thunderstorm and rain

• United Airlines – 15 canceled, 46 delayed
• JetBlue – 2 canceled
• Alaska Airlines – 2 canceled, 1 delayed
• Jazz – 2 canceled, 4 delayed
• American Airlines – 2 canceled
• Air Premia – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• British Airways – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Dreamjet – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Lufthansa – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• GoJet – 0 canceled, 9 delayed
• LOT Polish Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Republic Airways – 0 canceled, 4 delayed
• SAS – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Swiss – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• TAP Air Portugal – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Allegiant Air – 0 canceled, 1 delayed

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

Total: 29 cancellations, 169 delays
Cause: Thunderstorm and rain

• Endeavor Air – 10 canceled, 30 delayed
• American Airlines – 8 canceled, 7 delayed
• Republic Airways – 5 canceled, 45 delayed
• Delta Air Lines – 3 canceled, 29 delayed
• JetBlue – 2 canceled, 3 delayed
• Spirit Airlines – 1 canceled, 13 delayed
• Frontier Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Jazz – 0 canceled, 4 delayed
• Southwest Airlines – 0 canceled, 34 delayed
• United Airlines – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Mesa Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

Total: 33 cancellations, 96 delays
Cause: Thunderstorm and wind

• American Airlines – 24 canceled, 40 delayed
• PSA Airlines – 6 canceled, 10 delayed
• United Airlines – 2 canceled, 2 delayed
• Delta Air Lines – 1 canceled, 2 delayed
• Mesa Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Frontier Airlines – 0 canceled, 6 delayed
• Jazz – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Spirit Airlines – 0 canceled, 5 delayed
• Piedmont Airlines – 0 canceled, 17 delayed
• Republic Airways – 0 canceled, 3 delayed
• Southwest Airlines – 0 canceled, 8 delayed

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

Total: 29 cancellations, 91 delays
Cause: Thunderstorm and wind

• Cape Air – 14 canceled, 21 delayed
• American Airlines – 4 canceled, 6 delayed
• JetBlue – 3 canceled, 14 delayed
• United Airlines – 2 canceled, 4 delayed
• Republic Airways – 2 canceled, 9 delayed
• Jazz – 1 canceled
• Alaska Airlines – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Boutique Air – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Delta Air Lines – 0 canceled, 13 delayed
• Envoy Air – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Hawaiian Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• ITA Airways – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Piedmont Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Qatar Airways – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Southwest Airlines – 0 canceled, 9 delayed
• TAP Air Portugal – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Allegiant Air – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Air Canada – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Air France – 0 canceled, 1 delayed

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

Total: 21 cancellations, 221 delays
Cause: Thunderstorm and rain

• American Airlines – 6 canceled, 32 delayed
• GoJet Airlines – 4 canceled, 32 delayed
• United Airlines – 3 canceled, 21 delayed
• Envoy Air – 3 canceled, 25 delayed
• JetBlue – 2 canceled
• Frontier Airlines – 2 canceled, 3 delayed
• Spirit Airlines – 1 canceled, 4 delayed
• Alaska Airlines – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Austrian Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Air Wisconsin – 0 canceled, 3 delayed
• British Airways – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Cathay Pacific – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• China Southern Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Delta Air Lines – 0 canceled, 6 delayed
• Lufthansa – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Endeavor Air – 0 canceled, 4 delayed
• Etihad Airways – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Ethiopian Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• EVA Air – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• PSA Airlines – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Jazz Aviation – 0 canceled, 3 delayed
• Key Lime Air – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Piedmont Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Qatar Airways – 0 canceled, 2 delayed
• Republic Airways – 0 canceled, 3 delayed
• SkyWest Airlines – 0 canceled, 51 delayed
• Southwest Airlines – 0 canceled, 4 delayed
• Avianca El Salvador – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Turkish Airlines – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Emirates – 0 canceled, 1 delayed
• Contour Airlines – 0 canceled, 6 delayed
• Air India – 0 canceled, 2 delayed

Over 900 flights were canceled and delayed across major US airports as severe thunderstorms and heavy winds disrupted operations at JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago during the peak travel period. Airlines including Air Canada, American, United, Delta, Alaska, Spirit, and Frontier were hit hardest, with minimal flexibility due to full summer schedules.

Travelers Face Long Waits as Airlines Struggle to Recover

Across all six airports, airlines operated under heavy stress, not just due to weather but because of peak season volume. With aircraft already booked to near full capacity, rebooking options for stranded passengers became limited quickly. Customers flying with Air Canada, Delta, Spirit, Frontier, JetBlue, Alaska, United, and American were left navigating long hold times, packed customer service counters, and delayed notifications via mobile apps.

As more storms are forecast over the next forty-eight hours, airports are bracing for additional operational impacts. Industry experts are urging travelers to monitor airline apps closely, arrive early, and allow at least a two-to-three hour buffer before departure. Given the current trajectory, today’s disruptions are likely only the beginning of what could become a challenging few days across America’s busiest skies.