Millions of Americans faced severe air travel disruptions over the Christmas holiday as powerful winter storms battered key regions of the country, forcing thousands of flight cancellations and delays. Major airports from New York to the Great Lakes saw chaos on the busiest travel days of the year, leaving families and travelers stranded far from home.
A winter storm system — dubbed “Devin” by some weather services — brought snow, ice, and hazardous conditions to large swaths of the Northeast and Great Lakes. More than 1,500 flights were cancelled and thousands more delayed Saturday, particularly at major hubs like John F. Kennedy (JFK), LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International Airports. States of emergency were declared in parts of New York and New Jersey as conditions worsened.
The disruptions extended nationwide: some reports indicated over 1,800 cancellations and 22,000 delays connected to the harsh weather conditions, underlining the scale of the impact on holiday travel. Storm conditions included heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain, which overwhelmed airport operations and made both air and ground travel difficult.
Travelers described long waits for rebooking and limited staff available to assist amid the crush at terminals. With the holiday travel rush already straining airline schedules, winter weather added to the logistical challenges facing carriers and passengers alike.
Airport networks across the U.S. struggled to absorb the backlog. Flight tracking data showed cascading effects into Sunday and beyond, with follow-on delays causing missed connections, overbooked re-routing and overcrowded waiting areas. Airlines responded by waiving change fees for passengers affected by the storms.
The holiday surge — with more than 122 million Americans expected to travel more than 50 miles from home over the year-end period — compounded the issue, placing unprecedented demand on already stressed air travel infrastructure. Delays frequently stretched hours while baggage and support services lagged behind passenger needs.
Winter weather forecasts called for continued caution, with further snow expected to affect flight operations across the region. Transportation officials urged travelers to verify flight statuses before heading to airports and to have contingency plans in place.
