Washington: US holiday travel has been heavily disrupted as winter storm Devin has caused widespread flight cancellations and delays across the country, affecting millions of passengers during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
According to airline tracking service FlightAware, a total of 1,581 flights within, into or out of the US have been cancelled, while 6,883 flights have been delayed as of December 26 afternoon. The disruption has occurred as severe winter weather conditions have spread across large parts of the Midwest and the northeast.
The US National Weather Service has warned that winter storm Devin is creating hazardous travel conditions, with heavy snowfall forecast in several states. More than 40 million people across the US have been placed under winter storm warnings or weather advisories, while another 30 million people in California remain under flood or storm alerts due to intense rainfall linked to an atmospheric river.
Forecasted weather conditions may cause JFK Airport flight disruptions. Please check with your airline to determine the status of your flight. pic.twitter.com/qbDUpqpBdT
— John F. Kennedy Airport (@JFKairport) December 27, 2025
Major airports in the northeast have reported significant disruption. John F Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport have all warned passengers of possible delays and cancellations. Data from FlightAware shows that more than half of all flight disruptions on December 27 occurred at these three airports.
Several major airlines have been affected. JetBlue Airways cancelled 225 flights, the highest number among US carriers, followed by Delta Air Lines with 212 cancellations. Republic Airways cancelled 157 flights, while American Airlines and United Airlines cancelled 146 and 97 flights respectively.
JetBlue has said that approximately 350 flights across December 26 and 27 have been cancelled, primarily in the northeast where the airline operates a large number of services.
In New York City, forecasters have warned that snowfall could reach up to 250 millimetres overnight, marking the heaviest snowfall in nearly four years. Temperatures are also expected to fall sharply as an Arctic blast moves south from Canada into the US over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the US west coast has faced a different weather threat. Southern California has recorded its wettest Christmas period in more than five decades, with flooding and mudslides reported in several areas. Firefighters in Los Angeles County have rescued more than 100 people from floodwaters and stranded vehicles.
Authorities have urged travellers across the US to check flight statuses, monitor weather updates and allow extra time for journeys as severe weather conditions continue to impact holiday travel plans.
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