On July 17, 2026, nearly 5,000 US flights were delayed and 126 canceled due to wildfire smoke reducing visibility. Major hubs like Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, and JFK faced the worst disruptions.
The FAA cancelled over 500 flights and delayed around 4,000 due to weather and staffing issues at four major New York area airports. Ground stops and delays will continue intermittently throughout the evening of July 18, 2026.
US air travel saw nearly 4,900 flight delays and 126 cancellations nationwide on July 17, 2026. Major hubs like Chicago O’Hare and New York metropolitan airports, as well as airlines including Southwest and American Airlines, were heavily affected.