The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop advisory for LaGuardia Airport on Monday, July 27, 2026, while implementing a Traffic Management Program at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) causing arriving flights to be delayed an average of 2 hours and 29 minutes.
Staffing Shortages Impact Multiple Airports
The FAA slowed flights into JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, and Philadelphia International Airport in Pennsylvania due to staffing shortages at air traffic control facilities. Earlier in July, weather and staffing constraints contributed to over 500 flight cancellations and 4,000 delays in the New York area.
Delta Air Lines Sees Most Cancellations at LaGuardia
Delta Air Lines experienced the
most flight cancellations out of LaGuardia on July 27 amid the FAA’s ground stop advisory. The FAA described the ground stop as holding all flights departing for LaGuardia at their origin until the stop is lifted.
Operational Impact of Ground Stops
A ground stop means all flights departing to the affected airport are held at their origin airport until the stop is lifted, preventing new departures to manage congested airspace and staffing limits. The FAA stated that the Traffic Management Program in place at JFK is directly related to staffing shortages at air traffic control facilities.
