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Thousands of US flights disrupted as winter storm looms

December 27, 2025

A major winter storm struck the northeastern United States during the busy holiday travel period, causing widespread disruption to air travel with over 1,600 flight cancellations and 7,400 delays by Friday night. The National Weather Service warned that up to 9 inches of snow could fall in New York and southern Connecticut between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. Major airports serving New York, Boston, Chicago, and Toronto experienced the most severe impacts, with airlines including JetBlue, Delta, and Southwest cancelling hundreds of flights.

Who is affected

  • Air travelers across the United States, particularly those using John F Kennedy International, Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, Boston, Chicago, and Toronto airports
  • Passengers of JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, Republic Airways, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines
  • Residents of the northeastern US, particularly New York, southern Connecticut, New Jersey, and surrounding areas
  • Drivers and commuters in affected regions

What action is being taken

  • Airlines are cancelling flights (1,600 cancelled, 7,400 delayed as of Friday night)
  • Airports are warning travelers via social media to check flight status with their airlines
  • Snow ploughs are deployed and ready to clear streets once two inches accumulate
  • Governor Kathy Hochul and other state governors are issuing travel warnings and advisories

Why it matters

  • This storm is significant because it is occurring during the peak holiday travel season when millions of Americans are trying to reach family and friends for celebrations. The combination of severe weather conditions (up to 9 inches of snow) and high travel volume creates substantial disruption to transportation networks and poses safety risks for those who must travel. The widespread flight cancellations and delays affect thousands of passengers' holiday plans across multiple major metropolitan areas.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC

Thousands of US flights disrupted as winter storm looms