Payam Javan: U.S. airlines canceled more than 1,500 flights scheduled for December 26 and 27 as a powerful winter storm, named Devin, approached the Northeastern United States, disrupting air travel across the region. The storm triggered widespread operational challenges, affecting both arriving and departing flights and creating ripple effects throughout airline schedules nationwide.

New York City emerged as the hardest-hit area, with its three major airports ranking at the top nationally for flight cancellations. At John F. Kennedy International Airport, more than a third of inbound flights and nearly a quarter of outbound flights were canceled. LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport also reported significant cancellation rates, disrupting travel across the New York metropolitan area.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, potential ground stops were considered at JFK and LaGuardia, with inbound flights possibly halted entirely later in the evening. While cancellations were substantial, delays were even more widespread, with over 6,000 delayed flights recorded nationwide. The most affected airport by delays was Chicago O’Hare International Airport, where hundreds of departures were impacted.

Many additional airports across the Northeast and Midwest experienced significant disruptions, including major hubs in Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, and Toronto. The National Weather Service warned that freezing rain and heavy snowfall would continue through the night, creating hazardous travel conditions and prolonging disruptions as winter storm Devin moved along the East Coast.