Winter storm triggers widespread flight disruptions across U.S. Northeast

A major winter storm, bringing ice, sleet, and heavy snow, is causing significant disruption to air travel across the Great Lakes and the northeastern United States, with impacts expected to continue into Saturday. Hazardous conditions, including freezing rain and snow accumulation, are affecting airport operations, runway conditions and aircraft de-icing schedules across the region.

Airports in the Upper Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast are facing reduced capacity as airlines implement cancellations and delays to manage safety and congestion. Parts of New York State, including the New York City area, are forecast to receive their heaviest snowfall in several years, which will further complicate flight operations at major hubs.

As of Friday, more than 1,400 flights across the United States had been cancelled, with several thousand additional services delayed, according to data from flight-tracking provider FlightAware. Airlines are advising passengers to monitor flight status closely as weather-related disruptions continue to ripple through the national air traffic system.