Winter Storm Fern cancels 11,000+ US flights in a day – the worst disruption since COVID
January 26, 2026
More than 11,000 US flights were cancelled in a single day as Winter Storm Fern brought heavy snow, ice and extreme cold to major airline hubs, marking the worst disruption since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How many flights were cancelled due to Winter Storm Fern?
Aviation analytics firm Cirium said Sunday, January 25, was the highest cancellation day since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown of March 30, 2020, when 12,140 flights out of a total of 22,750 flights were cancelled across the US.
The firm projected widespread disruption this past Sunday across US domestic and international flights, based on airline schedule changes, with 8,231 cancellations out of 23,735 scheduled departures (34.68%). International arrivals into the US showed 720 cancellations out of 2,283 scheduled flights (31.54%).
The highest cancellation rates were projected at Philadelphia Airport (PHL: 94.03%), Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, DC (DCA: 91.02%), New York LaGuardia (LGA: 83.44%), Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey (EWR: 81.69%), and Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina (CLT: 81.68%).
Large airline hubs also experienced significant disruption, including Delta’s base at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL: 44.89%) and American Airlines’ base at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW: 44.88%).
Cirium showed the airlines with the most cancellations on Sunday were JetBlue (72.02%), American (55.63%), Delta (43.38%) and United (37.71%).
As AP reported, based on live tracking data from FlightAware, Sunday’s cancellations ultimately reached over 11,400 flights.
Why Winter Storm Fern was so disruptive
US winter storm disruptions are usually regional. Fern was a large storm with a long, broad path, creating a rolling chain reaction that grounded aircraft, stranded crews, and disrupted inbound flights needed to keep hubs operating.
The storm brought snow, sleet and freezing rain along a path from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England, according to the National Weather Service. Fern dropped 30 to 60 centimetres of snow from Washington through New York and Boston, impacting major aviation hubs.
🚨 Major Winter Storm Begins Today 🚨
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 23, 2026
Heavy snow and crippling ice will impact a large region, along with over 170 million Americans from the Southern Rockies/Plains today towards the Northeast by Sunday.
Be sure to stay safe and follow winter safety: https://t.co/DXnRXKLJ8L pic.twitter.com/hiqONM36iJ
Fern’s effects cascaded nationwide, putting pressure on Air Traffic Control and on airport and airline operations, which also impacted connections.
Recovery may be slow as airlines need time to reposition aircraft and crews, clear backlogged schedules at congested hubs, restore regular de-icing and dispatch cycles and work through rebooking demand. Major airlines responded to weather forecasts by adding capacity and notifying customers of their options before the storm.
Airlines reduced schedules but plan to ramp back up slowly on Monday
Cirium showed a significantly lower percentage of airlines cancelling flights on Monday, with JetBlue (12.56%), American Airlines (7.5%), Delta Air Lines (8.82%), and United (7.61%) still reporting the most cancellations.
Delta said it planned to resume normal operations “as weather permits,” while warning that lingering precipitation and very cold temperatures could continue impacting flights into Monday.
The airline also noted that flights in parts of the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys slowly began resuming on Sunday evening. Delta notified customers of potential disruptions ahead of the storm and offered travel waivers for passengers who wanted to change their plans.
American Airlines also prepared for Fern in advance by adding extra capacity (more than 6,200 seats) around hubs expected to be heavily impacted. The airline also offered passengers the option to change their travel plans before the storm.
Airline operations may still be constrained on Monday, depending on airport conditions, aircraft location and crew availability. Travellers should continue to confirm their flight status through airline apps and check the airline’s traveller alerts before heading to the airport.
Featured Image: steheap | stock.adobe.com
