Air travel disrupted nationwide
A major winter storm sweeping across large parts of the United States has caused widespread disruption to air travel, forcing airlines to cancel and delay thousands of flights and stranding travelers across the country.
By Monday afternoon, roughly 5,300 flights had been canceled and more than 4,300 delayed, according to FlightAware. The disruptions followed a severe Sunday, when over 11,000 flights were scrapped, marking the highest daily total since the pandemic.
Weather conditions worsen across key regions
Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium showed that nearly 14% of scheduled flights were canceled by early Monday morning. Forecasters warned that low-pressure systems moving eastward from New England would continue to bring heavy snow to the Northeast and freezing rain to parts of the Mid-Atlantic.
AccuWeather estimates that the storm, impacting more than two dozen states, could result in preliminary economic losses ranging between $105 billion and $115 billion, potentially making it the most costly severe weather event since the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles region.
Airlines and airports under strain
American Airlines accounted for the largest share of disruptions, with nearly 900 cancellations and about 600 delays. Republic Airways, JetBlue and Delta Air Lines also reported significant operational challenges.
United Airlines said it was gradually restoring service and expected fewer cancellations as conditions improved, though weather-related constraints continued to affect major hubs.
Further disruption expected
The Federal Aviation Administration warned that snow, freezing rain and low visibility could prompt ground stops and extended delay programs at major airports, including New York-area hubs, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington Dulles.
Because airline operations are tightly interconnected, cancellations have left aircraft and crews out of position, complicating efforts to resume normal schedules.
Roads, power grids and cargo operations hit
Beyond aviation, the storm has severely impacted ground transportation. Federal emergency officials cautioned that blizzard-like conditions, ice and strong winds could make driving hazardous across multiple states.
More than 820,000 customers were without power early Monday, according to PowerOutage.us, with Tennessee reporting the highest number of outages. Rail operators and logistics companies, including UPS, also warned of ongoing disruptions to freight and delivery networks.
Hotel booking data showed a sharp rise in cancellations across the U.S. and Canada as travelers adjusted plans amid the unfolding weather emergency.
