Delta, Republic Cancel Dosens Flights Amid Storm Disruptions

On August 15, 2025, Delta Air Lines and Republic Airways canceled a combined 37 flights across major US and international routes, disrupting operations at key hubs including New York JFK, LaGuardia, Boston Logan, Seattle–Tacoma, and Tokyo Haneda.

The wave of cancellations left hundreds of travelers stranded or scrambling for alternative connections at the height of the summer travel season. While neither airline has publicly confirmed the exact cause, the disruption coincided with operational strains and severe weather conditions linked to Tropical Storm Erin, which has been impacting the US East Coast since August 13.

Republic Airways—operating regional flights under the American Eagle brand—was hit particularly hard in early-morning operations, canceling 21 flights from cities such as New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Raleigh, and Montreal. Affected departures included high-demand routes like LaGuardia–Minneapolis, LaGuardia–Raleigh–Durham, and Montreal–Newark.

Delta Air Lines canceled 16 flights, including transpacific and transatlantic services such as Tokyo Haneda–Seattle and Amsterdam–Atlanta, along with key domestic connections from Charlotte, Boston, and New York.

The cancellations triggered a ripple effect across the airlines’ networks, straining rebooking options and causing knock-on delays for remaining flights. Travelers reported long lines at rebooking counters and difficulty securing alternative itineraries, particularly on long-haul routes. Airlines have urged passengers to monitor flight statuses closely and have waived change fees for affected routes.

This disruption comes just weeks after a series of high-profile operational breakdowns across US carriers. In July, Tropical Storm Debby caused hundreds of cancellations along the Gulf Coast, and a tsunami across the Pacific led to cancelled flights in Hawaii.

Also, in 2024, Delta suffered a massive CrowdStrike-related IT outage that grounded more than 7,000 flights. Severe weather events have increasingly emerged as a leading driver of mass cancellations, amplifying the strain on already tight airline schedules.

Delta and Republic Airways are currently working to re-accommodate displaced passengers. While some services resume, residual delays and further cancellations remain likely into the weekend, particularly on East Coast and transpacific routes. The FAA monitors the situation, and both carriers are expected to provide updated advisories as operations stabilize.

Cover photo by Miguel Ángel Sanz on Unsplash