The Federal Aviation Administration issued warnings on September 26, 2026, about possible ground stops and ground delay programs affecting major Northeast U.S. airports including John F. Kennedy International (JFK), LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Boston Logan, Philadelphia International, Reagan National, and potentially Washington Dulles. These traffic management measures could remain in effect through approximately 7 p.m. Eastern Time, with Washington Dulles potentially starting a ground stop after 2:30 p.m. ET.
FAA Traffic Management Measures Explained
The FAA’s ground stop requires certain flights to be held at their departure airports to avoid takeoff until clearance is granted. For instance, a flight from Chicago to JFK could be delayed
before departure if a ground stop is active. Ground delay programs differ by assigning arrival slots that hold some aircraft at their origin airports without fully stopping departures, controlling arrival demand at congested airports.
Weather and Operational Constraints
Weather conditions contributed significantly to the FAA warnings. Boston Logan International was experiencing rain and wind, while air traffic systems serving New York and Philadelphia faced wind-related constraints. Additionally, passenger volume at JFK was flagged for post-6 p.m. evaluation for possible further traffic management actions.
Airline Travel Waivers
Delta Air Lines issued a Northeast weather waiver for travel on September 26 and 27 covering JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Philadelphia, Providence,
Portland, and Westchester County airports. Rebooking under this waiver is allowed up to September 30. Delta also offered a separate waiver for Boston flights through September 29, permitting rebooking through October 2.
American Airlines released a severe-weather alert spanning September 25 through 27 for Boston, JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Philadelphia, Dulles, and Reagan National, offering a one-time change option within its ticket and rebooking policies. JetBlue’s waiver applies to travel through September 27 at Boston, JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and other Northeast airports, with rebooking available until September 30.
Refund Policies Versus Airline Waivers
The Department of Transportation mandates refunds only for canceled flights or significant schedule
changes, such as arrivals delayed by three or more hours. Airline waivers for weather-related disruptions are voluntary and allow changes without fees but do not guarantee refunds. Passengers canceling nonrefundable tickets due to forecasted weather disruptions do not automatically qualify for a refund.
Travelers Advised to Monitor Flight Status
The FAA operations plan released at 1:25 p.m. ET on September 26 noted no active terminal traffic-management programs at that time, but ground stops or delay programs can be imposed with little notice. Travelers are advised to monitor airline applications for current flight status, aircraft arrival times, and waiver eligibility before changing travel plans.
FAA traffic-management programs
evolve dynamically based on weather and airport capacity. Planned ground stops listed in FAA operations plans do not necessarily indicate active ground stops at the time but can be activated or canceled throughout the day to manage air traffic demand effectively.
