FAA Issues Ground Stops at 10 U.S. Airports for Third Consecutive Day as Northeast Thunderstorms Cause Over 548 Cancellations
Why It MattersRecurring weather-driven ground stops at major Northeast hubs highlight how seasonal storm patterns continue to strain airline schedules and airport operations across the region.
The Federal Aviation Administration halted flights at 10 U.S. airports on Wednesday for the third consecutive day as thunderstorms continued to affect the Northeast, with more than 548 flights cancelled within, into, or out of the United States that day, according to FlightAware data.
LaGuardia Airport recorded the highest number of cancellations among all U.S. airports, with 154 cancelled flights on Wednesday along with significant departure delays, and the airport saw consistent disruptions throughout the week. Reagan National Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, and JFK Airport were also heavily affected, with increased cancellations tied to FAA-issued ground stops from the thunderstorms. Boston Logan International Airport faced an additional flight halt unrelated to weather, stemming from ongoing runway construction scheduled to continue until Thanksgiving.
Among U.S. airlines, American Airlines recorded the most delays at 689, followed by United Airlines with 688. Regional carrier Republic had the most worldwide cancellations on Wednesday, while JetBlue cancelled 48 flights, Southwest Airlines 42, United Airlines 31, and Delta Air Lines 10. As of Thursday morning, JetBlue led all carriers in cancellations with 12, tied with Endeavor Air, while United Airlines had 10. United Airlines issued a flexible rebooking option for affected passengers, waiving change fees and fare differences, for travelers who rebook on a United flight departing between August 30 and September 5, 2026, in the same cabin and between the same originally booked cities.
