On Monday, July 27, 2026, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) issued a ground stop advisory for LaGuardia Airport, halting all departures bound for the airport until the restriction was lifted. Delta Air Lines experienced the highest number of cancellations out of LaGuardia on the day of the ground stop.
Staffing Shortages Cause Delays at JFK
John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is simultaneously experiencing delays to arriving flights caused by staffing shortages. According to the FAA, a Traffic Management Program is currently in effect at JFK, leading to average arrival delays of 2 hours and 29 minutes.
FAA Manages Slowdowns Across Multiple Airports
The FAA is managing slowdowns affecting flights into JFK,
LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport due to staffing constraints and weather conditions. These slowdowns stem from a shortage of air traffic control personnel at the facility overseeing these airports.
Earlier in July 2026, similar issues caused more than 500 flight cancellations and delayed approximately 4,000 flights across the New York area. Both weather and staffing limitations contributed to those operational challenges.
The ground stop at LaGuardia prevented departures to the airport until the advisory was lifted, resulting in cancellations largely impacting Delta Air Lines flights. Meanwhile, JFK arrivals are subject to extended delays, disrupting passenger travel
schedules. The FAA stated: “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.” No specific details were provided on the duration of the ground stop or the total number of flights affected on July 27.
