Major airlines across the US canceled thousands of flights and waived change fees Saturday as Winter Storm Hernando rolled in from the East Coast. The storm, packing heavy snow and high winds, hit hubs like Atlanta, Chicago, Newark, and Boston hard. Delta led with proactive cuts at BOS, JFK, and LGA. American, United, JetBlue, Southwest, and others followed suit. Over 500,000 passengers felt the pinch already from prior chaos. And now this. Expect more trouble Sunday into Monday.
Key Takeaways
- Airlines canceled 134 flights on February 21 with 3,746 delays, totaling 3,880 disruptions affecting half a million people.
- Delta, American, United, Southwest hardest hit at Atlanta (ATL), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Newark (EWR).
- All major carriers waived fees for changes; rebook via apps at no cost.
- Storm Hernando targets East Coast Sunday; disruptions to last through Monday.
Background
Winter storms have hammered US flights all month. February 2026 marks 52 straight days of high disruptions. Snow, ice, and wind teamed up with air traffic control strains from a government shutdown. Earlier this month, one storm alone knocked out over 15,000 flights. Nearly 10,000 cancellations through Monday then. American saw 822 cuts in a single day. Southwest 571. Delta and United close behind.
But Saturday's mess set the stage for Hernando. On February 21, 134 flights vanished outright. Another 3,746 sat on tarmacs. Average delays hit 80 to 106 minutes under FAA ground programs. Atlanta ground to a crawl. Chicago O'Hare overflowed. Newark's ground delays rippled nationwide. Miami, Seattle, DC airports joined the fray.
Passengers flooded terminals. Families missed connections. Business trips derailed. Spring break plans? Teetering. And the DC area coastal storm forecast for Sunday night adds fuel. Winds could gust high there too.
Delta moved first. They eyed forecasts and pulled plugs at East Coast spots. Safety first, they said. Others watched the radar. Then acted. Waivers flew out. No fees for switches. Apps lit up with rebooking options.
This isn't new. Last winter saw similar piles. But 2026 feels worse. Volume surges. Equipment glitches. Weather won't quit. Carriers strain to keep planes moving. Crews de-ice wings in biting cold. Ground crews clear runways. Still, chaos reigns.
Key Details
Delta took 55 cancellations Saturday. Over 214 delays too. Their East Coast hubs bore the brunt. BOS, JFK, LGA. Snow blanketed runways. Forecasts called for more. So Delta canceled ahead. They auto-rebooked folks. Told them to check apps.
"The safety of Delta customers and our people remains first and foremost as we closely monitor forecasts to determine necessary adjustments to flight schedules." – Delta Air Lines statement
American held cancellations low. Just 3. But delays topped 570. Miami and Chicago hurt most. DFW saw backups. Their plan: delay, don't cancel. Keeps passengers aboard. Avoids rebooking wars. But schedules shred later.
United battled Newark and O'Hare. Ground delays at EWR crushed connections. Chicago volume piled on. Flyers with tight links? Call 1-800-UNITED-1 fast.
Southwest logged 462 delays. Zero cancels. New assigned seats since January help? Maybe. But Austin, Orlando, Midway choked. Their point-to-point routes mean one late plane hits everywhere. Denver. Baltimore. Check status anywhere.
JetBlue joined the waiver party. So did Alaska at Seattle with de-icing woes. Air Canada felt it at gateways. Toronto flights late from Newark, Chicago, Miami. Their Unifor strike looms February 28. More pain possible.
Airports scrambled. ATL: arrive 30 minutes early. Security lags. Bags slow. ORD: cascading delays from north. MIA: weather plus volume. SEA: snow and ice. Even Orlando caught ripples from elsewhere.
FAA closed spots temporarily before. Vegas, Orange County, San Diego in prior storm. Not this time yet. But ground stops everywhere. Delays averaged over an hour.
Affected Airports and Airlines
Here's the rundown. ATL tops cancellations. ORD delays endless. EWR ground programs killer.
- Delta: 55 cancels, 214+ delays
- American: 3 cancels, 570+ delays
- United: heavy at EWR/ORD
- Southwest: 462 delays, 0 cancels
Passengers hit rebook buttons. Lines snaked at counters. Phones rang off hooks. Some slept in terminals. Others grabbed hotels. Waivers eased pain. But not fully.
And travel alerts from airlines like United echo past shutdown woes. TSA strains show up here too.
What This Means
Travelers face long waits. Rebooks fill fast. Some routes blacked out Sunday-Monday. East Coast snow buries roads too. Trains, buses? Booked solid.
Economy feels it. Missed meetings cost deals. Spring break kicks off soon. Families scramble. Airlines burn fuel idling. Crews hit rest rules. Recovery takes days.
Stock dips likely Monday. Fuel costs up. Insurance claims pile. But waivers build goodwill. Passengers remember flexibility.
Spring break looms weeks away. More storms brew? FAA watches. Carriers brace. High volume meets bad weather. Recipe for repeat.
Air Canada strike threat adds risk. Canadian links? Monitor daily. Disruptions cascade cross-border.
Hotels near airports fill. Rental cars vanish. Rideshares surge prices. Stranded folks adapt. Some drive. Risky in storms.
Long term, hubs need fixes. Capacity strains show. Weather amps it. Airlines push tech for better forecasts. Faster turns. Still, nature wins.
Flyers learn quick. Check apps hourly. Pack snacks. Charge devices. Know rights. EU rules don't apply here. But DOT watches fees.
This storm passes. Next one waits. US skies stay bumpy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my flight is canceled?
Use the airline app or website to rebook for free. Waivers cover changes outside the storm window. Call if needed, but lines are long.
Which airports are hit worst?
Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, Newark lead. Boston, JFK, LGA face snow Sunday. Miami, Seattle see delays too.
Will disruptions end soon?
Expect moderate to high chaos February 22-23 at key hubs. Storm Hernando lingers through Monday.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my flight is canceled?
Use the airline app or website to rebook for free. Waivers cover changes outside the storm window. Call if needed, but lines are long.
Which airports are hit worst?
Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Newark lead. Boston, JFK, LGA face snow Sunday. Miami, Seattle see delays too.
Will disruptions end soon?
Expect moderate to high chaos February 22-23 at key hubs. Storm Hernando lingers through Monday.
