More than 25% of scheduled departures from New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) were canceled on Tuesday as severe summer thunderstorms swept across the Northeast, causing widespread disruption to air travel. Conditions also remained challenging at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
According to FlightAware, over 630 flights departing from New York area airports had been canceled by 7 a.m. EST on Tuesday, while around 70 more were delayed. The disruption followed a difficult Monday, when hundreds of additional flights were canceled or delayed as the first round of storms moved through the region.
Severe weather triggers flight disruptions
The cancellations were driven by severe weather affecting the Northeast. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood watch for the New York metropolitan area, including New York City and northeast New Jersey, through Tuesday night.
The agency warned of damaging wind gusts of up to 50 knots and torrential rainfall with peak rates of nearly 2.5 inches per hour in some locations.
FAA issues ground stop at LaGuardia
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a ground stop at LaGuardia because of thunderstorms through 8 a.m. EST. The agency indicated that the restriction could be extended later on Tuesday and potentially expanded to include JFK and Newark.
American Airlines travel waiver
American Airlines issued a travel waiver covering New York area airports along with Baltimore (BWI), Boston (BOS), Philadelphia (PHL), Washington-Dulles (IAD), Washington-Reagan (DCA), and White Plains (HPN).
The waiver applies to travel through July 21 and allows affected passengers to rebook flights through July 23.
Delta Air Lines waiver details
Delta Air Lines announced a waiver for passengers traveling through LaGuardia, JFK, Newark, Boston (BOS), Baltimore (BWI), Washington-Reagan (DCA), White Plains (HPN), Washington-Dulles (IAD), and Philadelphia (PHL).
The waiver covers travel through Tuesday, July 22, and permits customers to rebook flights for travel on or before July 25.
JetBlue expands waiver across Northeast hubs
JetBlue introduced a waiver covering 11 airports in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including LaGuardia, JFK, Newark, White Plains, Islip (ISP), Boston (BOS), Philadelphia (PHL), Washington-Reagan (DCA), Baltimore (BWI), Richmond (RIC), and Norfolk (ORF).
The waiver applies to travel through July 22 and allows passengers to rebook flights through July 26 without paying change fees or fare differences.
United Airlines offers fee-free rebooking
United Airlines issued a waiver for travelers using LaGuardia, JFK, Newark, and Philadelphia (PHL).
The waiver covers travel scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, and allows passengers to rebook without fees through July 23, provided they retain the same origin and destination and remain in the original cabin class.
Passengers are advised to regularly check the official websites, mobile apps, or social media channels of their respective airlines for the latest flight status, travel advisories, waiver policies, and rebooking options. As weather conditions remain unpredictable, airlines may update schedules and passenger assistance measures at short notice.
