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Yesterday, June 18, 2025. More than 2,100 flights were delayed or canceled nationwide as a fast-moving storm system swept through the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, disrupting operations at key hubs including New York’s JFK and LaGuardia, Washington Reagan, Boston Logan, and Charlotte Douglas.
Airlines most affected include United, American, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, and Air Canada. Widespread delays were caused by lightning, low ceilings, wind shear, and FAA ground stops, further straining an air travel system already burdened by peak summer demand.
Key Impacts by Airport:
- LaGuardia (NYC):
Worst affected, with 672 delays and 42 cancellations.- Republic Airways: 28 cancellations, 223 delays
- Endeavor Air (Delta): 6 cancellations, 139 delays
- American, JetBlue, United, and others experienced widespread delays.
- Charlotte Douglas (NC):
367 delays and 57 cancellations, largely impacting American Airlines and its regional carriers (Piedmont, PSA, Envoy).- American: 31 cancellations, 132 delays
- Reagan National (DC):
301 delays, 31 cancellations.- PSA and Envoy Air hit hardest, accounting for 25 cancellations and 83 delays.
- Significant disruptions also for Southwest, JetBlue, and United.
- Boston Logan (MA):
311 delays and 21 cancellations.- Cape Air: 12 cancellations
- Republic Airways: 86 delays
- International carriers (Air France, Etihad, Qatar, Turkish) also impacted.
- JFK (NYC):
296 delays and 25 cancellations.- Endeavor Air: 15 cancellations, 52 delays
- Delta, JetBlue, Republic Airways, and American faced notable slowdowns.
- International carriers like Emirates, Lufthansa, and Swiss reported delays or gate congestion.
Systemic Causes & Passenger Fallout:
- FAA imposed multiple ground stops due to storm activity.
- Lightning and poor visibility delayed ramp operations and forced aircraft holds.
- Crew misalignments and tight schedules caused cascading delays across networks.
- Travelers faced long waits, rebooking challenges, and crowded terminals. Some spent the night in airports as hotels filled quickly.
Outlook:
With more storms forecast and high summer travel volumes persisting, further disruptions are likely. Airlines have issued travel waivers and urged passengers to monitor flight statuses closely. Experts warn that the U.S. aviation system remains vulnerable to additional weather-related setbacks in the weeks ahead.
