A massive winter storm spanning 2,000 miles from New Mexico to Maine has disrupted air travel nationwide, forcing airlines to cancel over 12,000 flights and leaving millions of Americans stranded or delayed during what aviation experts are calling the largest single-day cancellation event since the pandemic.

Flight Chaos Grips Major Airports

FlightAware data shows 4,245 flight cancellations and 8,831 delays recorded by Monday morning at 7 a.m. Major East Coast hubs bore the heaviest impact, with Boston Logan International Airport recording 296 cancellations. New York’s transportation network suffered severe disruptions as John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports reported 262 and 233 cancellations respectively. Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey experienced the most severe disruptions, with over 40 percent of all flights canceled.

The storm’s reach extended beyond the Northeast, hitting major transportation hubs in North Carolina and Texas with over 150 cancellations each. American Airlines led carriers in cancellations with 600 flights grounded, while JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest each canceled more than 300 flights. The widespread disruptions reflect the storm’s unprecedented scale and intensity.

Record-Breaking Weather Event

Sunday marked the peak of the historic weather system, which impacted more than 245 million Americans across multiple states. The storm dumped heavy snow in northern regions while unleashing crippling ice accumulation that brought down power lines and created hazardous travel conditions. Fox News correspondent Sarah Alegre reported on sweeping power outages from Nashville, Tennessee, highlighting the storm’s impact on infrastructure beyond aviation.

Economic and Travel Implications

The storm’s timing and scope created ripple effects throughout the American economy and travel industry. Sunday’s cancellation of over 11,400 flights nationwide represents a significant financial blow to airlines and inconvenience to travelers. Aviation analytics firm Cirium confirmed this marks the largest single-day flight cancellation event since pandemic-related disruptions, underscoring the severity of weather-related challenges facing the transportation sector during winter months.