US Winter Storm Leaves Thousands of Holiday Trips on Hold

A major winter storm sweeping across large parts of the United States has caused severe travel disruption, with thousands of flights cancelled or delayed at the start of the working week. According to FlightAware data, around 5,300 flights were cancelled and over 4,300 delayed on Monday afternoon, after more than 11,000 cancellations on Sunday - the highest daily total recorded since the pandemic, based on figures from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

The US National Weather Service reported that low pressure south of New England was moving east over the Atlantic, bringing heavy snowfall to the Northeast and freezing rain across the Mid-Atlantic. American Airlines accounted for the largest share of Monday’s disruption, with nearly 900 cancellations and about 600 delays. Republic Airways, JetBlue and Delta also reported significant operational challenges as schedules shifted throughout the day.

Damage estimates reflect the intensity of the storm. AccuWeather forecast preliminary economic losses between $105 billion and $115 billion across more than two dozen affected states, with the event likely to become the most expensive severe weather incident since the Los Angeles-area wildfires. Cargo operations were hit as well, with UPS warning of impacts on its Louisville hub, while freight railroads CSX and BNSF said they were preparing for wider disruptions.

Impacted Transport Hubs

• New York-area airspace
• Boston Logan
• Philadelphia International
• Washington Dulles
• Newark Liberty
• LaGuardia

The Federal Aviation Administration stated that snow, ice and reduced visibility were affecting multiple major hubs and could lead to ground stops through the afternoon. These airports connect major corridors in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, serving as gateways to cities such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington - areas packed with museums, historical landmarks, coastal towns and cultural venues that draw large numbers of domestic and international visitors throughout the year.

Beyond airports, the storm took a toll on roads and power infrastructure. FEMA warned that blizzard-like conditions, strong winds and ice made driving hazardous across several states. More than 820,000 customers experienced power outages early on Monday, most notably in Tennessee and the Carolinas. With aircraft, cargo, road travel and utilities all disrupted at the same time, many people found their late-January travel plans suddenly on hold, hoping conditions stabilise before schedules recover.