US Airlines Cancel Over 10,000 Flights Amid Winter Storm

A powerful winter storm system led airlines to cancel more than 10,000 flights across the US on January 25, 2026, severely disrupting air travel. The storm mostly affected the northeastern US, forcing airlines to preemptively ground aircraft as weather conditions rapidly deteriorated.

States declare emergencies ahead of severe conditions

In advance of the storm’s arrival, multiple states issued emergency declarations, warning residents of potentially life-threatening conditions while also unlocking access to emergency funding and disaster response resources.

By early Friday (January 23), states of emergency were already in effect in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, signaling concern well beyond the Northeast and into the southern US.

As the storm continued to move eastward, additional emergency declarations followed. Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania enacted statewide emergency measures, while New York joined the list later on Friday as snowfall and ice forecasts worsened.

Widespread ice and power outages heighten safety risks

Stretching from the Southern Rockies through the Northeast, the storm brought a dangerous mix of heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Meteorologists warned that extended periods of freezing rain could coat roads and infrastructure with thick layers of ice, significantly increasing the risk of traffic accidents and downed power lines.

More than 670,000 power outages were reported nationwide over the weekend, with officials in southern states cautioning that electricity disruptions could last for days.

Airlines scale back operations

Airlines responded by sharply reducing schedules across affected regions.

• Delta Air Lines urged customers as early as January 23 to change travel plans, warning that the storm would cause widespread operational disruption.
• JetBlue canceled 568 flights on January 25 alone and proactively removed more than 40 percent of today’s flights from its schedule.
• American Airlines canceled approximately 43 percent of its mainline flights.
• PSA Airlines canceled 85 percent of flights, Piedmont Airlines cut 99 percent, and Envoy Air canceled 31 percent, highlighting the outsized impact on regional operations.

Recent storms show vulnerability during peak travel

The storm follows a similar weather-related disruption during the Thanksgiving weekend of 2025, from November 27 to November 30, when a powerful storm system struck the Midwest and Great Lakes regions.

On November 27 alone, more than 800 flights were delayed, primarily in northern states hit by early snowfall and strong winds, underscoring how extreme weather continues to pose significant challenges for airlines and travelers alike.

Photo by Taylor Prince on Unsplash