A severe winter storm system wreaked havoc on US air travel during the critical holiday period, forcing major carriers to cancel over 1,000 flights and delay thousands more. According to flight tracking data from FlightAware, the aviation industry experienced massive disruptions on Friday, December 26th, 2025, with 1,139 cancellations and 3,808 delays recorded by midday Eastern Time.
The National Weather Service had issued urgent winter storm warnings covering the Great Lakes region, northern Mid-Atlantic, and southern New England, predicting hazardous travel conditions through Saturday morning. Major airports including John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County proactively alerted passengers about potential disruptions through social media channels.
JetBlue Airways bore the brunt of the cancellations with 225 scrapped flights, followed closely by Delta Air Lines with 186 cancellations. Republic Airways canceled 155 flights, while American Airlines and United Airlines called off 96 and 82 flights respectively. In response to the deteriorating conditions, American Airlines implemented a travel waiver policy, allowing affected passengers to rebook without incurring change fees.
The massive disruption occurred during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, stranding thousands of holiday travelers attempting to return home after Christmas celebrations. Airlines struggled to manage the cascading effects of the severe weather while maintaining communication with passengers about the evolving situation.