Travel Chaos Sweeps Across US with 2,885 Delays and 451 Cancellations at Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta, Charlotte and More, Hitting American Airlines, Delta, United and Others: All You Need to Know

Published on December 8, 2025

Travel Chaos Sweeps Across US with 2,885 Delays and 451 Cancellations reported at Chicago O’Hare (1,176 delays, 274 cancellations), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (1,141 delays, 137 cancellations), and Charlotte Douglas (568 delays, 40 cancellations). The Major airlines affected are Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, each facing hundreds of delayed flights tied to their primary hubs. Delta recorded 825 delayed flights (52%) and 108 cancellations at Atlanta, while American Airlines saw 220 delays at Charlotte and more than 155 delays at Chicago O’Hare. United’s operations were similarly affected, with 332 delayed flights (62%) at O’Hare.

Key regional carriers—Piedmont (57% delayed), PSA Airlines (41% delayed), Endeavor Air (61% delayed), and SkyWest (70% delayed at ATL, 42% delayed at ORD)—amplified system pressure across dozens of smaller feeder airports. Cities facing extended ripple impacts include New York, Boston, Miami, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Milwaukee, each reporting delay percentages ranging from 40% to more than 70% depending on inbound traffic from the three overburdened hubs.

Most Affected Airports by Cancellations and Delays

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

Chicago O’Hare stands as the day’s most disrupted hub, posting 1,176 delays (45%) and 274 cancellations (10%). United alone accounted for 332 delayed flights, while American contributed another 155 delays. Regional carriers such as SkyWest (42% delayed) and GoJet (44% delayed) added to congestion. Downstream airports like LaGuardia (69% delayed), Milwaukee (42% delayed), and Appleton (50% delayed) reflected ORD-driven operational strain.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Atlanta reported 1,141 delays (50%) and 137 cancellations (6%), led by Delta’s 825 delayed flights and 108 cancellations. Endeavor Air added 119 delays, raising overall disruption across the Southeast. Airports such as Birmingham (60% delayed), Memphis (70% delayed), and Miami (42% delayed) show direct impact from ATL feeder routes.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Charlotte recorded 568 delays (35%) and 40 cancellations (1%). Piedmont led disruptions with 175 delayed flights (57%) and 19 cancellations, followed by PSA with 97 delays and 15 cancellations. Delay percentages also climbed at nearby airports such as Lynchburg (66% delayed), Charlottesville (50% delayed), and Greenville–Spartanburg (44% delayed).

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

LaGuardia experienced 23 delayed flights (69%) and several inbound cancellations linked to ORD and ATL. With both Chicago and Atlanta facing heavy backlog, LGA’s delays reached some of the highest percentages in the Northeast, affecting carriers including Delta, American, and Spirit.

Miami International Airport (MIA)

Miami reported 42% of flights delayed, with inbound traffic from ATL and CLT contributing to congestion. The airport recorded nine delays (42%) from Atlanta routes alone and several additional delays influenced by Charlotte’s regional networks.

Airlines Affected by Cancellations

Delta Air Lines

Delta saw the highest cancellation numbers today with 108 cancellations at Atlanta and 825 delayed flights, representing 52% of its total ATL schedule. Additional delays spread to Memphis (70%), LaGuardia (69%), and Austin (61%) due to ATL-originating congestion.

American Airlines

American recorded 220 delayed flights at Charlotte and 155 delays (50%) at Chicago O’Hare. Across its regional network, delays exceeded 400 flights, driven heavily by feeder carriers Piedmont (175 delays) and PSA (97 delays). At least 12 American flights at Miami and 8 at Boston also faced delays tied to hub congestion.

United Airlines

United experienced 332 delayed flights (62%) at Chicago O’Hare, although cancellations were relatively minimal. ORD congestion pushed delays into Milwaukee (42%), Cincinnati (57%), Detroit (23%), and San Francisco (25%).

Piedmont Airlines

Piedmont posted 175 delays (57%) and 19 cancellations at Charlotte, making it one of the day’s hardest-hit regional carriers. These delays created extended wait times at airports such as Tri-Cities (25%), Fayetteville (50%), and Blue Grass (60%).

SkyWest Airlines

SkyWest recorded 70% delays at Atlanta and 42% delays at Chicago O’Hare, amounting to more than 364 delayed flights across both hubs. This widespread disruption affected cities including Des Moines (66% delayed), La Crosse (66% delayed), and Memphis (70% delayed).

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

• Monitor flight status frequently, as rolling delays and gate changes are common during multi-hub disruptions.
• Allow extra time for connections, especially when traveling through Chicago, Atlanta, or Charlotte.
• Use airline self-service tools to access free rebooking options or same-day flight changes.
• Consider alternative routing, such as connecting through Denver, Dallas–Fort Worth, or Phoenix, where delays remain lower.
• Track compensation eligibility, especially when delays exceed three hours or involve overnight impacts.
• Keep essential items in carry-on bags in case of hotel delays or unexpected overnight stays.
• Expect longer lines at security, rebooking counters, and boarding gates due to passenger backlogs.

Learn More

Overview

Today’s aviation disruptions highlight severe congestion at Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta, and Charlotte, where a combined 2,885 delays and 451 cancellations have created cascading delays across the national airspace. Major carriers—Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines—have absorbed the bulk of the impact, alongside heavily affected regional operators such as Piedmont, PSA Airlines, SkyWest, and Endeavor Air.

Chicago O’Hare’s 1,176 delays and 274 cancellations, Atlanta’s 1,141 delays and 137 cancellations, and Charlotte’s 568 delays and 40 cancellations have echoed into airports including LaGuardia, Boston, Miami, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati, each reporting elevated delay percentages ranging from 40% to 70%. As Delta Air Lines and American Airlines face widespread operational strain at Atlanta and Charlotte, United Airlines continues to battle congestion at Chicago O’Hare.

Overall, the day’s disruptions underscore the interconnected nature of the nation’s largest hubs—Chicago O’Hare, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, and Charlotte Douglas—and how quickly delays at these airports can spread through the networks of Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, shaping the travel experience for millions of passengers.

Image Source: AI

Source: Different airports and FlightAware