Airlines across the United States canceled and delayed thousands of flights on Friday as winter storm Devin swept through major regions during peak holiday travel, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. Several states also imposed restrictions on commercial road traffic in anticipation of heavy snowfall and hazardous conditions.
As of 4:04 p.m. Eastern Time, FlightAware reported 1,802 flight cancellations and 22,349 delays nationwide. The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings, stating that Devin is expected to create dangerous travel conditions across the Great Lakes, the northern Mid-Atlantic, and southern New England through Saturday morning. Forecasters said areas from upstate New York to the Tri-State region, including New York City and Long Island, could receive between four and eight inches of snow late Friday into the night.
Major airports in the New York metropolitan area, including John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport, alerted travelers through social media about possible cancellations and delays. More than half of all reported flight disruptions occurred at these three airports, FlightAware data showed.
JetBlue Airways recorded the highest number of cancellations among U.S. carriers, grounding 225 flights, followed closely by Delta Air Lines with 212 cancellations. Republic Airways canceled 157 flights, while American Airlines and United Airlines canceled 146 and 97 flights respectively. JetBlue later said it had canceled approximately 350 flights across Friday and Saturday, largely affecting the Northeast where the airline has a significant presence.
Representatives from American Airlines, United Airlines, and JetBlue confirmed that change fees have been waived for affected passengers, allowing travelers to rebook without additional charges. Delta Air Lines and Republic Airways did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In preparation for the storm, New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency beginning Friday afternoon. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the declaration was necessary to ensure agencies and local partners had sufficient resources to respond as snowfall spread across New York City and surrounding areas. New Jersey and Pennsylvania also imposed commercial vehicle restrictions on several roads, including major interstate highways.
New Jersey’s acting governor Tahesha Way warned that the storm could severely impact holiday travel and create dangerous road conditions, urging residents and travelers to avoid unnecessary travel and allow road crews to carry out their work safely.
