Flight Cancellations and Delays Mount Across Northeast Hubs Amid Severe Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms moving across the Northeast corridor are causing widespread flight disruptions, prompting ground delays, cancellations, and active travel waivers across major East Coast hubs, including New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.

According to FlightAware, as of 1:00 p.m. EST, there are 1,851 delays and 314 cancellations within, into, or out of the United States, and those numbers are likely to get worse as the day goes on.

New York LaGuardia (LGA) leads with 49 cancellations (9% of schedule) and 48 delays, followed by Boston Logan (BOS) with 31 cancellations (4%) and 75 delays, John F. Kennedy International (JFK) with 30 cancellations (4%) and 38 delays, Reagan National (DCA) with 10 cancellations (2%) and 51 delays, and Newark Liberty (EWR) with 6 cancellations (1%) and 22 delays.

The weather is forcing a lot of those delays. According to the FAA, ground delays at JFK are currently averaging nearly two hours, while Newark is sitting at an average delay of 102 minutes and LaGuardia is averaging 45 minutes on the ground alongside additional departure holds.

The area’s regional and mainline airlines have the highest total cancellation counts, with Republic (80 cancellations), Endeavor Air (80 cancellations), and JetBlue (45 cancellations) experiencing the heaviest impacts.

Some airlines have issued flexible travel advisories to allow passengers to rebook without penalty.

American Airlines issued a travel advisory waiving change fees and fare differences for passengers flying through Boston (BOS), New York (JFK and LGA), Newark (EWR), and Philadelphia (PHL). The American waiver applies to tickets purchased by August 31, 2026, for travel scheduled on September 1, with rebooked travel permitted through September 3 in the same cabin and route.

United Airlines issued a similar weather waiver for New York area thunderstorms covering Newark (EWR), JFK, LGA, and Philadelphia (PHL). United is waiving change fees and fare differences for passengers scheduled to fly on September 1, allowing rebooked travel to be completed through September 4 as long as origin, destination, and cabin remain identical.