The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) starting at 9:40 a.m. local time on Thursday, August 27, 2026, following severe thunderstorms. The ground stop was expected to last until at least 10:00 a.m., resulting in widespread delays for flights scheduled throughout the day.
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) also experienced a ground delay in response to the same severe weather conditions. As of 9:40 a.m. local time, inbound flights to LaGuardia faced average delays exceeding 90 minutes. By the morning hours, LaGuardia recorded 42 flight cancellations, representing 7% of its scheduled departures and arrivals,
and 101 delays, accounting for 18% of total flights.
Delays Across JFK and U.S. National Airspace
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) encountered significant service disruptions despite not being subject to a ground stop. By morning, JFK had 19 cancellations and 48 delays. FlightAware data from 9:45 a.m. EDT indicated 1,522 flights delayed and 172 flights canceled nationwide, covering departures, arrivals, and transits within U.S. airspace affected by the storms.
In response to the widespread disruption, multiple major airlines operating from the New York City airports implemented flexible travel waivers. These waivers permit passengers with flights scheduled on Thursday to rebook or change flights without paying change
fees or any fare differences.
Following the lifting of the ground stop, flights departing from Newark are expected to face cascading delays averaging more than one hour. The severe thunderstorms and resulting FAA actions have created ongoing ripple effects across flights serving New York City airports throughout the day.
