The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued ground stops on August 18, 2026, at nine airports in the Northeastern United States due to thunderstorms and adverse weather conditions forecasted for the region. The ground stops aim to mitigate the impact of damaging wind gusts and scattered afternoon and evening storms expected across New York and New Jersey.
LaGuardia and Newark See Highest Flight Cancellations
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) reported the most cancellations nationwide with 43 flights canceled as of early morning August 18, 2026. This follows 37 departure and 27 arrival cancellations recorded at LGA on August 17. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) also faced considerable disruption, with 27
cancellations recorded on August 17 and ongoing delays continuing into August 18. These disruptions are concentrated mainly in New York-area hubs, impacting flights into and out of New York City.
Delta Air Lines Offers Rebooking and Waives Change Fees
Delta Air Lines has issued notices warning customers of delays and cancellations at nine Northeast U.S. hubs affected by FAA ground stops. The airline is offering rebooking options for flights on August 18 and August 19, 2026, with change fees waived provided the new travel occurs on or before August 10, 2026, and remains in the same cabin class as the original booking. Delta cautions that fare differences may apply
if the class of service is not maintained in the rebooked itinerary.
Passenger Delays Due to Air Traffic and Staffing Disruptions
Passengers at LaGuardia have experienced delays approaching three hours caused by air traffic congestion preempting the weather impacts. Flight DL2396 was notably delayed when only one pilot was available to operate the flight. Travelers have reported significant delays unrelated directly to weather but linked to operational challenges at the airport.
Official Statements and Passenger Reactions
Delta Air Lines stated, “When rebooked travel occurs on or before August 10, 2026 in the same cabin of service as originally booked, the fare difference will be waived. A fare difference may apply when the waiver is
class to class restrictive and the original booking class is not maintained in the rebooked itinerary.” Aviation expert JonNYC noted on social media, “Delta: a NYC cancel package is in the works for tomorrow. The company is expecting weather conditions to drive significant ATC delays in NYC Thursday.” Passengers voiced frustrations about delays and cancellations on platforms, citing air traffic backups and pilot shortages as contributing factors.
Weather Forecast and Industry-wide Impact
The thunderstorms forecast throughout the afternoon and evening in New York and New Jersey are the primary cause of the FAA’s ground stops and the ensuing flight disruptions. Major U.S. airlines with large
operations in the Northeast, including Delta Air Lines and JetBlue, are experiencing substantial operational impacts amid these conditions. The weather has triggered multiple waves of ground stops this week across airports in the region.
