Severe Storms Ground Over 2,000 Flights, Disrupting Airlines

More than 2,000 flights within, into or out of the United States were canceled Tuesday as severe thunderstorms swept across the East Coast, according to FlightAware. Another 5,000 flights were delayed. The storms triggered flood warnings and tornado watches across parts of the Northeast, with at least two tornadoes spotted – one in northeast Pennsylvania and another in northern New Jersey, Fox Weather reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued ground stops for at least eight U.S. airports, including New York's LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Boston Logan, Philadelphia, Washington Reagan and Dulles, Baltimore-Washington, and Toronto Pearson. John F. Kennedy International Airport was not under a ground stop but experienced an average ground delay of about four hours, FlightAware said. In the New York City metropolitan area alone, nearly 600 departing flights had been canceled and more than 500 others delayed.

Several airlines issued travel advisories and flexible rebooking options. JetBlue said its teams were working around the clock to help affected customers reach their destinations, and that customers whose flights were affected may rebook travel through Sunday or request a refund. United Airlines said it is waiving trip change fees for eligible customers who rebook flights departing by Thursday. American Airlines said it will notify affected customers by email or through its mobile app, with new travel scheduled by Friday.

The operational disruptions come as jet fuel prices jumped 10% from Tuesday to Wednesday, Fox Business reported. The combination of weather-related cancellations and rising fuel costs adds pressure on carriers already managing tight margins. American Airlines, which carries an Alpha Score of 62 out of 100, faces additional strain from both factors. FlightAware said figures are expected to rise as the storms continue to move through the region.