As of 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, flight cancellations at New York City’s main airports reached over 260, with more than 100 cancelled flights each at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, and 60 cancellations recorded at Newark Liberty International Airport. These disruptions follow similar high cancellation rates on Monday evening at LaGuardia and above-average cancellations at JFK and Newark. The Federal Aviation Administration issued ground stops and delay programs for all major New York airports on Monday, and added a ground delay program for LaGuardia on Tuesday morning.
Severe Storms and Cascading Flight Network Disruptions
A system of intense
thunderstorms brought heavy rain, strong winds, and localized flooding across the tri-state area, inducing widespread cancellations and delay programs. This weather forced the FAA to regulate traffic at the New York airports. Aircraft and crews being held at their points of origin led to cascading delays and cancellations throughout the national aviation network. Secondary impacts were observed at major hubs including Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, and Charlotte, where weather conditions were clear.
Major Airports Affected and Airline Travel Flexibility
The airports affected include John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport. Over 100 flights were cancelled at both JFK and LaGuardia while Newark experienced
60 cancellations as of early Tuesday. Multiple major airlines granted flexible travel change policies on July 28, 2026, allowing passengers flying through New York to modify travel plans without penalty amid the disruption.
