On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, severe summer weather impacted Chicago O’Hare (ORD), John F. Kennedy International (JFK), and LaGuardia (LGA) airports, resulting in widespread flight disruptions. By 2 p.m. EDT, ORD reported more than 120 flight cancellations and over 400 delays. JFK and LaGuardia combined recorded in excess of 100 cancellations and roughly 250 delays amid line storms and heavy rainfall affecting the New York metropolitan area.
Airlines Implement Waivers for Affected Passengers
Several major U.S. carriers announced travel waivers covering flights through ORD, JFK, LGA, and Newark (EWR). American Airlines waived change fees and fare differences for passengers traveling on August 11 who purchased tickets
by August 9, permitting rebooking between August 10 and August 13. United Airlines offered fee-free rebooking for August 11 Chicago departures, allowing rescheduling between August 9 and August 14 within the same class without additional charges. Delta Air Lines extended changes without fees for tickets issued on or before August 10, usable on flights through JFK, LGA, EWR, and Westchester County Airport (HPN) by August 13. JetBlue waived change, cancellation fees, and fare differences for flights touching JFK, LGA, EWR, HPN, Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP), or Boston Logan (BOS) on August 10 and 11, with rebooking permitted through August
15.
Passenger Guidance and Travel Impact
The flight delays and cancellations disrupted travel for hundreds of passengers at these key airports. Airlines urged travelers to use mobile applications or online booking portals to manage changes before arriving on-site, minimizing further delays during airport processing. These waivers aim to accommodate passengers affected by the day’s severe weather conditions across Chicago and New York air hubs.
Severe Weather Conditions Cause Operational Disruptions
The disruptions at ORD, JFK, and LGA resulted from waves of severe thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rainfall crossing Chicago and the New York metropolitan region on August 11. The Federal Aviation Administration issued ground stop orders contributing to operational delays. In
response, major U.S. carriers proactively established fare change waivers and flexible rebooking policies to mitigate passenger inconvenience amid the ongoing adverse weather event.
