The Federal Aviation Administration has issued warnings about potential ground stops and ground delay programs affecting several major Northeast airports on September 26, 2026. Airports possibly impacted include New York’s JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Boston Logan, Philadelphia International, Reagan National, and Washington Dulles. These programs could last through approximately 7 p.m. Eastern Time today, with Washington Dulles potentially starting a ground stop after 2:30 p.m. ET.
Boston Logan is currently experiencing rain and wind disrupting operations, while New York and Philadelphia air traffic control systems are managing wind-related constraints. The FAA plans to evaluate JFK after 6 p.m. ET for
an additional traffic-management measure due to passenger volumes.
Airline Travel Waivers and Coverage
Delta Air Lines has issued a Northeast weather waiver for travel on September 26 and 27 covering JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Philadelphia, Providence, Portland, and Westchester County airports. Passengers can rebook travel with new trips starting no later than September 30. A Boston-specific Delta waiver applies to travel from September 26 to 29, allowing rebooked journeys through October 2.
American Airlines released a Northeast severe-weather alert encompassing Boston Logan, JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Philadelphia, Dulles, and Reagan National airports. This waiver applies for travel between September 25 and 27 and permits one-time changes subject
to ticket and rebooking conditions.
JetBlue Airways offers a waiver covering travel through September 27 at Boston Logan, JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and other Northeastern airports. Eligible travelers may rebook through September 30 under the airline’s policies.
FAA Traffic-Management Measures and Definitions
The FAA defines a ground stop as a traffic-management action requiring some aircraft to remain on the ground at their departure airport until arrival traffic clears. For example, a flight from Chicago to JFK could be held in Chicago rather than taking off and circling near New York.
A ground delay program, by contrast, assigns arrival slots limiting the number of aircraft landing at
a destination airport, holding some departing flights at their origin airports to manage demand. Both measures can cause delays beyond the affected airports.
Traveler Guidance and Refund Policies
Flights showing as “on time” earlier in the afternoon may become delayed as conditions evolve. Passengers holding tickets for affected Northeast airports on September 26 and 27 should verify flight statuses and whether their tickets qualify for airline-issued waivers before altering travel plans.
Refund eligibility under U.S. Department of Transportation rules applies when an airline cancels a flight or subjects travelers to significant schedule changes, defined as arrivals delayed by three or more hours. Weather-related delays or
forecasted ground stops alone do not guarantee refunds, although airlines like Delta, American, and JetBlue offer waivers to facilitate one-time changes.
Dynamic FAA Operations and Monitoring
The FAA operations plan issued at 1:25 p.m. ET on September 26, 2026, indicates that no terminal traffic-management programs were active at that time, but cautions that ground stops or delay programs can activate with little warning as weather and airport capacity fluctuate. Travelers are advised to monitor FAA updates and airline communication throughout the day.
