A ground stop advisory was issued for LaGuardia Airport (LGA) on Monday, July 27, 2026. This ground stop requires all flights destined for LaGuardia to remain at their points of origin until the hold is lifted, effectively halting departures to the airport during the advisory period.
At John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) activated a Traffic Management Program due to staffing shortages. Flights arriving at JFK faced an average delay of 2 hours and 29 minutes as a result of the program, which manages air traffic flow into the airport.
Delta Air Lines and Affected Airports
Delta Air Lines recorded the
bulk of flight cancellations out of LaGuardia as a consequence of the ground stop. The FAA’s operational slowdowns involved not only LaGuardia and JFK but also Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport, all within the New York area air traffic control jurisdiction.
Earlier in July, similar staffing shortages at air traffic control facilities, compounded by weather conditions, led to more than 500 flight cancellations and approximately 4,000 delays across these regional airports.
FAA Statement and Traveler Impact
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.” The staffing shortage at the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center is the primary factor behind the ground stop at LaGuardia and delayed flights at JFK.
Passengers at LaGuardia faced halted departures with all outbound flights held at their origins. Those arriving at JFK experienced significant delays, averaging nearly two and a half hours. Multiple incoming flights at New York area airports encountered disruptions due to this staffing shortage and associated operational restrictions.
