Ground stops were issued and later lifted today at Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport due to severe weather combined with air traffic control staffing shortages, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Flight cancellations ranged from 20% to 30% across the four airports, with ground delays averaging between 71 and 149 minutes per flight. Arriving flights at JFK faced an average delay of 2 hours and 29 minutes under a Traffic Management Program currently in effect.
Flight Operations Impacted by Staffing Shortages
The FAA reported that certified air traffic controller staffing at the New York Area Terminal
Radar Approach Control stands at 57% of targeted levels. To manage the shortage, the agency has imposed mandatory overtime and six-day work weeks for many controllers.
Flight limits have been extended at Newark through summer 2027, and at JFK and LaGuardia through late October 2028. Relief waivers from minimum flight requirements at JFK, LaGuardia, and Reagan Washington National Airport were also extended through late 2027, allowing airlines to fly 10% fewer flights without losing takeoff and landing slots.
Passenger and Flight Disruptions
Delta Air Lines experienced the highest number of flight cancellations at LaGuardia during the ground stop. Passengers at JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and
Philadelphia airports are facing delays and cancellations, with some flights being held at origin airports until ground stops were lifted.
FAA Staffing Outlook and Policy Measures
The FAA stated that air traffic control staffing deficiencies at Newark will not significantly improve before October 2027. Flight limits and relief waivers are being maintained to address ongoing operational capacity challenges.
“Due to STAFFING / STAFFING, there is a Traffic Management Program in effect for traffic arriving at John F Kennedy International Airport, New York, NY (JFK). This is causing some arriving flights to be delayed an average of 2 hours and 29 minutes,” the FAA said.
