More than 500 flights were cancelled and approximately 4,000 delayed on July 13, 2026, across John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport, impacting the New York metropolitan area.
Weather and Air Traffic Control Staffing Cause Disruptions
The Federal Aviation Administration attributed the widespread cancellations and delays to severe weather conditions affecting the New York area, combined with staffing shortages at the air traffic control facility responsible for managing flights at these airports. These conditions have forced the FAA to implement flight slowdowns and traffic management measures to reduce congestion.
FAA Implements Ground Stops and Ground Delays
The FAA has issued ground stops and ground delays intermittently throughout
the day and into the evening at JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, and Philadelphia airports. Ground stops hold flights at their origin airport until the restriction is lifted, preventing departures to the affected airports. Ground delays allow flights to depart but assign specific takeoff times to maintain safe spacing and prevent airborne traffic congestion or holding patterns.
The combination of bad weather and air traffic control staffing constraints has generated significant operational challenges, resulting in hundreds of flight cancellations and extensive delays at these major airports, affecting travelers across the region.
