U.S. Airlines Cancel Over 1,800 Flights as Winter Storm Devin Disrupts Holiday Travel
More than 1,800 flights were canceled and over 22,000 delayed across the United States on Friday as Winter Storm Devin slammed into the Northeast during one of the busiest holiday travel weekends of the year.
According to flight-tracking site FlightAware, 1,802 flights had been canceled and 22,349 delayed as of 4:04 p.m. ET. The storm created widespread chaos, particularly at major Northeast hubs like New York’s JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International airports — which accounted for the majority of impacted flights.
The National Weather Service issued urgent winter storm warnings, cautioning that Devin would bring “hazardous travel conditions” from the Great Lakes through the Mid-Atlantic and into southern New England into Saturday morning. Upstate New York, Long Island, and the New York City metro are bracing for 4 to 8 inches of snow, with freezing temperatures and gusty winds making conditions even more treacherous.
Airlines Hit Hard
JetBlue, which operates a large portion of its flights out of the Northeast, was the hardest hit — canceling 225 flights on Friday and anticipating more through Saturday.
Delta Air Lines followed closely behind with 212 cancellations. Republic Airways, a regional carrier that flies for major airlines, canceled 157 flights. American Airlines and United Airlines were also affected, scrapping 146 and 97 flights respectively.
In response, several major carriers, including JetBlue, United, and American, issued travel waivers allowing customers to rebook flights without change fees.
A JetBlue spokesperson confirmed the airline had already canceled 350 flights between Friday and Saturday. Delta and Republic Airways did not immediately provide comment.
States Declare Emergencies
In preparation for the storm, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon to mobilize resources and emergency services. “As widespread snowfall is expected to start in New York City and its surrounding areas this evening, I will declare a State of Emergency to ensure that our agencies and local partners have the resources and tools they need to respond to the storm,” she said.
New Jersey and Pennsylvania also took preemptive action, issuing restrictions on commercial vehicles across several major interstate highways to avoid pileups and ensure plow access.
“This storm will cause dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel,” said New Jersey’s acting governor Tahesha Way. “We are urging travelers to avoid travel during the storm and allow crews to tend to the roads.”
Holiday Travel Thrown Into Chaos
For millions of Americans trying to reunite with family for Christmas, the storm is a logistical nightmare. Airports throughout the Northeast are facing backlogs, and highways are quickly becoming impassable due to snow and ice accumulation.
Authorities are advising residents and travelers to delay any non-essential travel until the storm passes and road conditions improve.
Winter Storm Devin is the latest in a series of extreme weather events that continue to expose the vulnerabilities in America’s transportation grid during critical travel periods — and serves as a stark reminder that Mother Nature doesn’t take holidays off.