Over 19,000 U.S. Flights Canceled as Winter Storm Fern Disrupts Air Travel

U.S. & North American Airspaces

More than 19,000 flights within, into, or out of U.S. airports have been canceled since Saturday as Winter Storm Fern brought heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain across large parts of the country, according to our data.

The disruption peaked on Sunday, which became the worst single day for flight cancellations since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the total cancellations recorded between Saturday and early Monday morning, more than 11,000 occurred on Sunday alone, highlighting the severity of the storm’s impact on U.S. aviation.

Major Hubs Hit Hardest

The storm severely affected major airline hubs, particularly in the South and Northeast.

Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) was the hardest-hit airport overall. Nearly three-quarters of its scheduled flights were canceled over the weekend, with approximately 3,200 flights scrubbed between Saturday and Monday morning, according to AirNav Radar. The airport, a primary hub for American Airlines, recorded around four inches of snow in 48 hours, an unusual event for North Texas.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport, another prominent American Airlines hub, saw the second-highest number of cancellations, with nearly 2,000 flights canceled during the same period.

Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport, Delta Air Lines’ central hub, ranked third. While cancellations were significant, they were roughly half the number recorded at DFW, underscoring the disproportionate impact on Texas airports.

Northeast and New York Area Airports

Winter Storm Fern also heavily disrupted airports in the Northeast. The New York City area’s three major airports — JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark — each recorded around 1,500 cancellations. Snowfall totals in the region approached 10 inches, further complicating ground operations and aircraft de-icing.

At Boston Logan International Airport, the disruption carried into Monday morning. As of early Monday, around 60% of departing flights were canceled, making it one of the most affected airports at that time, although overall conditions were gradually improving nationwide.

Airlines Scale Back Operations

American Airlines and Delta Air Lines accounted for a significant share of the cancellations. On Sunday, American Airlines canceled well over half of its scheduled flights, making it the most impacted carrier of the day.

Delta Air Lines also reduced its schedule as freezing rain and ice affected operations in Atlanta and other southern airports. The airline said it deployed additional reserve pilots and flight attendants and repositioned teams from colder-weather hubs to assist with de-icing operations and baggage handling.

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