As of 7 a.m. EST on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, flight cancellations in New York City’s major airports totaled over 260 flights. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) each reported cancellation counts exceeding 100, while Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) had 60 cancelled flights. These figures follow Monday evening’s disruptions, including more than 100 cancellations at LaGuardia and above-average cancellations at both JFK and Newark.
Severe Weather and FAA Ground Delay Programs
The cancellations are the result of a severe storm system advancing across the tri-state area, delivering heavy thunderstorms, torrential rainfall, strong winds, and localized flooding. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) imposed ground stops and delay programs at all major New York airports starting Monday. On Tuesday morning, the FAA issued an additional ground delay program specifically for LaGuardia Airport, which may expand should the weather continue to deteriorate.
Cascading Effects Across National Hubs and Airline Policies
Because aircraft and flight crews remain grounded or held at their origin points in New York, the delays have propagated to other major aviation hubs including Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, and Charlotte. These facilities experienced secondary cancellations and delays despite clear weather conditions locally. Nearly every leading airline has responded by offering flexible change waivers for travel through New York on Tuesday,
allowing passengers to modify travel plans without penalties amid the disruptions.
