Severe Weather Wreaks Havoc: Over 2,000 Flights Canceled on East Coast

On Monday, a severe weather front passing through the East Coast caused over 2,000 flights to be canceled and thousands more to be delayed in and out of the United States.

Several thunderstorms hit the East Coast over the weekend, with the bad weather continuing into Monday and Tuesday. In addition to the thousands of flight disruptions seen on Monday, a further 800+ flights were canceled in the U.S. as of Tuesday afternoon, and almost 1,500 were delayed, according to FlightAware.

Photo: Courtesy of Laura Lefurget Smith / Unsplash

Photo: Courtesy of Nivenn Lanos / Unsplash

The most significant disruptions were seen in the New York City area, with all three major regional airports having canceled more flights than other airports on Monday.

A total of 269 flights out of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) were canceled on Monday, representing 41% of its entire schedule, while another 269 inbound flights (35%) were canceled. A further 231 outbound flights and 216 inbound flights were delayed.

At New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), 42% of outbound flights (236) and 40% of inbound flights (241) were canceled, and almost one-third of all flights were delayed. At John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), 15% of outbound flights (115) and 15% of inbound flights (120) were canceled, while more than one-third of all scheduled flights were delayed.

Photo: New York-LaGuardia Airport. Courtesy of Mohit Kumar / Unsplash

Significant disruption was also seen at many other major airports across the East Coast and Northeastern United States, including Boston Logan International (BOS), Chicago O’Hare International (ORD), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), and Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA).

The extreme weather was also experienced north of the border, with many flights disrupted at the Canadian airports of Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) and Montreal-Trudeau (YUL).

United Airlines was hit hard on Monday, with 19% of its schedule canceled due to the weather, resulting in 583 canceled flights. Additionally, 40% of its schedule was delayed, resulting in 1,214 United flights being delayed.

“The FAA frankly failed us this weekend,” United CEO Scott Kirby told staff in a letter Monday. More than 150,000 United customers were affected, he claimed. $UAL pic.twitter.com/Vi6gw2CROW

— Edward Russell (@ByERussell) June 27, 2023

United’s CEO, Scott Kirby, blamed the FAA for reducing the arrivals and departures rate from the airline’s main hub at Newark. “That is almost certainly a reflection of understaffing /lower experience at the FAA,” Kirby noted in an internal email to his employees. The FAA was quick to respond that the organization “will always collaborate with anyone seriously willing to join us to solve a problem.”

Moreover, JetBlue passengers also saw widespread disruption, with more than half (54%) of the low-cost carrier’s flights delayed on Monday, with a further 146 (13%) canceled. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines also experienced widespread delays and some cancellations.

Photo: Courtesy JetBlue

With the weather not letting up on Tuesday, hundreds more flights were canceled in and out of Newark, with dozens more canceled across many of the major East Coast airports. And with more bad weather predicted for the upcoming Independence Day weekend, travelers are being warned about further potential delays and cancelations, with those planning on flying urged to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.