Historic Blizzard Disrupts US Air Travel, Grounding Thousands of Flights
A severe winter storm, described as historic, has swept across the north-east coast of America, causing widespread chaos in air travel. More than 5,300 flights within, into, or out of the United States have been cancelled today, with significant impacts on major aviation hubs like New York's JFK and LaGuardia airports.
Airport Operations Halted Amid Blizzard Warnings
The blizzard, which hit the region on Sunday, brought heavy snow, fierce winds, and coastal flooding. In response, airlines including Delta, American, and JetBlue have grounded numerous flights. According to FlightAware data, over 60% of arrivals at JFK and LaGuardia were cancelled on Sunday, with figures rising to 87% at JFK and 96% at LaGuardia by Monday morning.
Virgin Atlantic issued a statement, noting that adverse weather conditions have led to suspended operations at JFK and Boston Logan International airports. The airline is allowing passengers to reschedule travel free of charge until Thursday 26 February. Similarly, global carriers like Emirates and Etihad have halted flights to or via New York until Tuesday.
Travel Bans and Safety Measures Implemented
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a local state of emergency on Sunday, implementing a full travel ban until at least 12pm local time on Monday. Schools are closed, and all streets, highways, and bridges have been shut to traffic. The US National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning, effective until 6pm Monday, predicting up to 61 centimetres of additional snow and wind gusts reaching 60 mph in some areas.
Officials are urging residents to stay home due to extremely treacherous travel conditions. Airlines have responded by issuing travel advisories and waiving change fees for affected passengers. JFK and LaGuardia airports are advising travellers to check flight statuses regularly before heading to the airport.
This storm marks the biggest nor'easter to hit the East Coast since 2017, with ongoing disruptions expected as the blizzard continues to impact the region.
