On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, severe weather caused extensive flight disruptions at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and New York City area airports John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). Chicago O’Hare reported more than 120 canceled flights and over 400 delays as of 2 p.m. EDT, while JFK and LaGuardia combined registered upwards of 100 cancellations and more than 250 delayed flights.
Severe Line Storms and Heavy Rainfall Impact Flights at Major Hubs
These disruptions stemmed from intense summer line storms and heavy rainfall sweeping through the Chicago and New York metropolitan areas on August 11. The severe weather system affected flight operations across key U.S. hubs,
triggering large-scale delays and cancellations.
Airlines Issue Weather Waivers and Flexible Rebooking Options
Major U.S. carriers have responded with targeted weather waivers to assist travelers impacted by the disruptions at ORD, JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). American Airlines is waiving change fees and fare differences for passengers traveling August 11 via ORD and Northeast airports including JFK, LGA, and EWR, provided their tickets were purchased by August 9, with rebooking allowed through August 13.
United Airlines offers fee-free rebooking for August 11 Chicago flights, permitting passengers to reschedule between August 9 and August 14 in the same cabin without fare differences.
Delta Air Lines extended
waiver coverage to tickets issued on or before August 10 for flights touching JFK, LGA, EWR, and Westchester County Airport (HPN), allowing rebooking without fees for travel through August 13.
JetBlue waived change and cancel fees plus fare differences for August 10 and 11 flights at JFK, LGA, EWR, HPN, Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP), and Logan International Airport (BOS), with rebooking allowed through August 15.
Passenger Guidance and Industry Response
Passengers affected by cancellations or delays were advised by all airlines to manage rebooking directly through mobile apps or online portals before proceeding to airports. The disruptions on August 11 made Chicago O’Hare the
leading hub for cancellations and delays nationwide, underscoring the widespread impact of the severe summer storms.
