New York Experiences Travel Chaos Amid Severe Winter Storm as LaGuardia Airport Face 240 Flight Cancellations and 140 Delays by Republic Airways, Endeavor Air, American, Southwest, Delta Air Lines and others

Published on December 27, 2025

The aviation landscape in the northeastern United States has been significantly disrupted as New York City is placed under a stringent Winter Storm Warning. Commencing Friday afternoon and expected to persist through Saturday afternoon, the region is being braced for substantial snowfall of up to 6 inches, with even higher accumulations projected across the Tri-State area. This severe weather event has transitioned from a mere forecast into a major logistical challenge for the transportation sector, particularly at LaGuardia Airport, where operations have been severely hampered by the onset of winter conditions. Republic Airways and Endeavor Air have already reported dozens of grounded flights. Meanwhile, industry giants like Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are working tirelessly to rebook stranded passengers.

As the storm intensified on Friday, the early sunshine was quickly replaced by dense cloud cover. With temperatures struggling to reach a high of 29 degrees, the National Weather Service issued warnings regarding hazardous travel conditions, citing snow-covered roads and drastically reduced visibility. In response to these escalating risks, a Travel Advisory was issued by Mayor Eric Adams, while NYC Sanitation crews were pre-deployed to treat road surfaces. However, for the thousands of travelers relying on air transit, the impact of the storm was felt most acutely on the tarmacs and in the terminals of the city’s aviation hubs.

LaGuardia Airport

The brunt of the atmospheric disturbance has been felt at the major gateways of New York City, with LaGuardia Airport emerging as a primary focal point for flight disruptions. According to recent reports, the facility has recorded a staggering 240 total cancellations and 140 delays today. These figures represent a significant portion of the daily schedule, leaving thousands of passengers stranded or forced to re-evaluate their travel plans.

The operational difficulties at LaGuardia Airport are being driven by a combination of freezing temperatures, which dropped to 25 degrees on Friday night and the accumulation of snow which is expected to reach between 3 to 6 inches across the city and Long Island. In neighboring regions such as the Hudson Valley and southwest Connecticut, totals of 6 to 10 inches are possible, creating a ripple effect that complicates the arrival and departure of aircraft throughout the northern New Jersey corridor. While the National Weather Service has predicted slightly higher totals of 5 to 9 inches in specific warning areas, the primary concern for airport authorities remains the maintenance of runway safety and the management of de-icing protocols under such persistent snowfall.

Impacted Airlines

The scale of the disruption at LaGuardia Airport is further illustrated by the high volume of affected carriers. Republic Airways has been identified as the most heavily impacted, with 67 cancellations and 31 delays reported. This is closely followed by Delta Air Lines, which has seen 42 of its flights cancelled and 34 delayed. Regional partners such as Endeavor Air (DAL) have also struggled to maintain schedules, recording 35 cancellations and 15 delays.

Major national carriers have not been spared from the inclement weather in New York City. American Airlines reported 29 cancellations and 25 delays, while Southwest Airlines faced 23 cancellations and 6 delays. Budget carriers were also affected; Spirit Airlines recorded 16 cancellations and 5 delays and JetBlue saw 18 cancellations alongside 8 delays. Smaller impacts were noted for Frontier with 7 cancellations, Jazz (ACA) with 6 and United Airlines with 5. Even international connections via Air Canada were disrupted, with 2 cancellations and 4 delays reported. These statistics highlight a systemic slowdown across the aviation sector as the storm maintains its grip on the US East Coast.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The arrival of the Winter Storm Warning is expected to have a cooling effect on local tourism within New York City and its surrounding suburbs. With slippery travel conditions and a high temperature of only 33 degrees expected for Saturday, the usual flow of visitors to iconic landmarks and commercial districts is being curtailed. The early closure of offices and the recommendation for commuters to utilize mass transit or leave before the 4 p.m. onset of the warning has essentially halted the Friday evening economy.

Tourism-related activities are further complicated by the forecast of flurries and spotty freezing drizzle on Saturday morning. Although travel conditions are expected to slowly improve as the day progresses, the damp and cold environment is likely to discourage foot traffic. While a slight warming trend is anticipated on Sunday, with a high of 37 degrees, the transition of snow into rain—particularly late in the day—continues to present a bleak outlook for weekend travelers. By the time temperatures spike to 49 degrees on Monday, the damage to the weekend’s tourism revenue will have already been sustained, particularly as a very windy Tuesday is forecast to follow.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

For those currently caught in the travel chaos at LaGuardia Airport or other regional hubs, immediate action is required to mitigate the inconvenience. Passengers are being encouraged to monitor their flight status through official airline apps and websites before attempting to travel to the airport. Given the high volume of cancellations, mass transit is being recommended as the safest and most reliable method for returning home or reaching local accommodations in New York City.

Airlines generally provide waivers for rebooking during significant weather events in the US and passengers are advised to check their email for notifications regarding automated rescheduling. For those already at the terminal, seeking assistance from gate agents or using dedicated customer service phone lines is necessary, though wait times are expected to be high. As the snow is predicted to persist through Saturday afternoon, patience is being requested from all travelers while sanitation and ground crews work to clear runways and pre-treat surfaces. Safety remains the paramount concern and until the hazardous road conditions and reduced visibilities subside, the aviation industry in the region will remain in a state of cautious recovery.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.