The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented flight delays and ground stops on July 28, 2026, at New York City area airports John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport due to severe weather combined with persistent air traffic controller staffing shortages.
Flight cancellations at the four airports ranged from 20% to 30% according to FlightAware data. Ground delays averaged between 71 and 149 minutes for affected flights departing and arriving at the four airports.
Staffing at the New York Area Terminal Radar Approach Control remains critical, operating at only 57% of its targeted
certified air traffic controller levels. Controllers are working mandatory overtime and six-day workweeks to handle traffic volume.
To address these challenges, the FAA extended flight limits at Newark Liberty International through summer 2027 and at JFK and LaGuardia through late October 2028. Relief waivers from minimum flight requirements, allowing airlines to operate 10% fewer flights without risking slot forfeiture, have also been extended at JFK, LaGuardia, and Reagan Washington National Airport through late 2027.
Flight cuts initially imposed in May 2025 at Newark, following major disruptions at the United Airlines hub, remain in effect. The FAA says staffing deficiencies at
Newark will not significantly improve before October 2027.
Travelers at the affected airports on July 28, 2026, faced cancellations between 20% and 30% and delays averaging from 71 to 149 minutes. These disruptions are driven by controller shortages and mandated overtime.
The FAA stated that persistent staffing shortages at New York area facilities justify extending flight limits and relief waivers through 2027 and 2028 to manage congestion and maintain safety.
Staffing shortages at the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center also impact flights at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark. These shortages, along with severe weather, have prompted the FAA to
impose and extend operational restrictions and flight limits through late 2027 and 2028.
