Thousands of Travelers Suffer Throughout US as Passengers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois, New Jersey and more Face 60 Cancellations with 1123 Delays by Delta, United, Air Canada, British Airways, Alaska Airlines and Several other Carriers

Published on December 11, 2025

The US air travel system faced a severe strain today. Multiple states experienced significant disruption. Travelers in key regions, including California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois, New Jersey, Alabama, Massachusetts, Michigan and Minnesota, dealt with widespread flight issues. Specifically, 60 flights were canceled. In addition, an astonishing 1,123 flights were delayed across the country. This operational turbulence affected passengers at 15 major airports. Several major carriers struggled to maintain schedules. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Air Canada, British Airways and Alaska Airlines were among the carriers impacted. These high-volume disruptions quickly created a cascading effect. Consequently, thousands of travel plans were immediately thrown into chaos. Airlines and airport personnel worked to manage the unexpected congestion. However, the sheer volume of delayed and canceled flights presented a massive logistical challenge. This report details the full scope of the operational setback. It focuses on the affected airports, the specific airlines involved and the implications for local tourism in regions like California, Florida and New Jersey.

Major Airports Affected

Significant operational challenges were documented at 15 major airports across the country, where the 1,123 delays and 60 cancellations were reported. The data collected indicates where the most severe congestion and service failures were concentrated, highlighting the most problematic hubs for today’s air travel.

• Chicago O’Hare International (Illinois): This airport was subject to the highest number of flight delays recorded in the data, with a staggering 433 flights delayed and six cancellations. This volume of disruption in Illinois represents a significant operational hurdle for the national air traffic control system.
• Detroit Metro Wayne County (Michigan): A substantial impact was observed in Michigan, where 112 delays were documented, accompanied by seven cancellations.
• Minneapolis/St Paul International (Minnesota): The Minnesota hub reported 103 delays and four cancellations, indicating serious operational friction in the Midwest region.
• Los Angeles International (California): Despite having only one cancellation, this major West Coast gateway was affected by 86 flight delays. The sheer number of delayed departures and arrivals in California highlights the breadth of the day’s issues.
• Miami International (Florida): In Florida, 79 delays and four cancellations were reported, indicating considerable complications for travelers passing through this southern international gateway.
• Newark Liberty International (New Jersey): A total of 65 delays and six cancellations were recorded in New Jersey, impacting the highly saturated Northeast air travel corridor.
• San Francisco International (California): This California airport registered four cancellations and 54 delays, further compounding the complications faced by West Coast travelers.
• Boston Logan International (Massachusetts): Boston saw the highest number of cancellations among all listed airports, with 10 flights canceled, alongside 52 delays. This significantly affected air traffic in Massachusetts.
• Anchorage International (Alaska): The state of Alaska recorded 44 delays and four cancellations.
• San Diego International (California): This California airport was affected by 31 delays and two cancellations.
• Palm Beach International (Florida): In Florida, this airport documented four cancellations and 18 delays.
• John Wayne (California): A total of 15 delays and two cancellations were noted at this California facility.
• Jacksonville International (Florida): Operations in Florida were further hindered by 12 delays and two cancellations.
• Sacramento International (California): This California airport was affected by 10 delays and two cancellations.
• Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (Alabama): Service in Alabama was affected by nine delays and two cancellations.

Impacted Airlines

A wide range of domestic and international carriers was involved in the cancellations and delays across the affected states. The disruptions were not isolated to a single carrier, but rather spread across the industry.

The data reveals that Delta Air Lines was affected across multiple states, including Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts and Michigan. United Airlines experienced issues in both Chicago, Illinois and Newark, New Jersey. Alaska Airlines and its regional partner, Horizon (ASA), were affected in Alaska and California, respectively.

Several regional and international carriers were also significantly impacted:

• Cape Air was responsible for the largest single number of cancellations (seven) at Boston Logan International in Massachusetts.
• SkyWest reported disruptions at John Wayne (California), Detroit Metro Wayne Co (Michigan) and Minneapolis/St Paul Intl (Minnesota).
• Jazz (ACA) flights were affected in California, Illinois and New Jersey.
• Envoy Air (AAL) documented issues in Illinois and Minnesota.
• Southwest Airlines saw cancellations and delays in California.
• International carriers such as Air Canada (in California and Florida), British Airways (in California), Caribbean Airlines (in Florida), Arajet (in Florida) and El Al (in New Jersey) also had flights affected.
• Other carriers noted in the report include Contour Airlines and Endeavor Air (DAL).

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The concentration of flight disruptions is expected to produce significant negative ramifications for local tourism sectors across the affected states, including California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois, New Jersey, Alabama, Massachusetts, Michigan and Minnesota. The delay of 1,123 flights and the cancellation of 60 others mean thousands of travelers were prevented from arriving at their destinations on time.

The five major California airports affected—Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, John Wayne and Sacramento—serve as primary gateways for leisure and business tourism. The numerous disruptions reported at these hubs, especially the high number of delays at Los Angeles Intl, directly interfered with scheduled holiday and business travel in California. Similarly, the significant delays reported at Miami Intl and Palm Beach Intl in Florida are expected to have caused a measurable downturn in same-day check-ins for the state’s vital hospitality industry.

In the Midwest, the extreme volume of delays at Chicago O’Hare Intl in Illinois, as well as the high number of disruptions in Michigan and Minnesota, likely resulted in missed connections and canceled reservations for connecting and originating travelers. Furthermore, the 10 cancellations reported in Massachusetts and the four in Alaska for Anchorage Intl demonstrate that localized travel plans across diverse environments were severely hindered, leading to financial losses for hotels, car rental agencies and local attractions in Massachusetts and Alaska. The operational challenges faced in New Jersey, Alabama, Michigan and Minnesota are all expected to have produced similar adverse effects on local economies dependent on reliable air travel.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

Passengers whose flights were included in the 60 cancellations or 1,123 delays are advised to immediately contact the operating airline. The responsibility for rebooking or providing compensation for the canceled or severely delayed services is generally determined by the specific carrier’s policy and federal regulations. Travelers affected in states like California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Alabama, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota and Alaska should confirm their flight status before traveling to the airport, especially when a high volume of delays, such as those seen in Illinois, is reported.

For passengers with canceled flights, a refund or rebooking on the next available flight is typically offered. In the case of delays, passengers are entitled to services such as meal vouchers or accommodation if the delay extends significantly, often due to controllable events. Comprehensive travel insurance, if previously purchased, should be reviewed as it may cover costs associated with the widespread travel disruption. All communication with the affected airlines, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Air Canada and others, should be documented. The sheer scope of the 60 cancellations and 1,123 delays necessitates that passengers exercise patience and due diligence while seeking resolution for their disrupted travel plans across the various affected regions in California, Florida, New Jersey, Alabama, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Alaska and Illinois.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.