(NEW YORK) Flight delays and cancellations are surging across major U.S. hubs this summer, with New York among the hardest hit as storms and airspace congestion ripple through daily schedules. The national cancellation rate has climbed to 1.8% in 2025, up from 1.4% last summer, while 27.3% of flights are delayed, according to aviation data firms. Average delays now reach 62 minutes, four minutes longer than in 2024. Despite nearly 256,000 fewer scheduled flights this summer—an 18% drop—airlines have logged about 1,000 more cancellations than a year ago. The busiest day was projected to be July 18, 2025, with more than 28,314 departures and 3.8 million seats.
New York and Northeast pressures
New York’s three main airports—Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK—are again under pressure. LaGuardia’s cancellation rate sits near 6.2%, while JFK is about 4.7%, placing both among the highest for summer cancellations.
Travelers starting or connecting in New York face packed schedules, tight turns, and frequent ground holds when thunderstorms roll through the Northeast corridor. Airlines cite weather, staffing challenges, and crowded airspace as the main drivers, with problems often compounding late in the day.
Other major hubs and regional trends
The pain is not limited to New York. Several other busy hubs have experienced heavy delays and cancellations at times:
- Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Denver have seen significant operational disruption even when not topping cancellation charts.
- Washington’s Reagan National has one of the sharpest jumps: roughly 6% cancellation rate and a +274% increase from 2024.
- Atlanta’s cancellation rate is around 1.6%, but that reflects a +257% climb; on-time arrivals there are down about 9.3%.
- Boston Logan and Washington Dulles have seen worsening on-time performance this summer, and Philadelphia is trailing with slower arrivals.
By contrast, some airports are improving:
- Miami cancellations down 40%
- Fort Lauderdale down 25%
- San Francisco down 21%
- Los Angeles down 12%
- Chicago O’Hare ranks among the lowest for summer cancellations
These gains show performance can improve when weather cooperates and carriers stabilize operations at specific hubs.
Daily patterns and cascading delays
A pattern stands out across the country: delays often build as the day progresses.
- Early morning departures (before 8 a.m.) are around 30% more likely to be on time than later flights.
- On stormy Northeast days, delays tend to cascade from New York to other hubs as crews and aircraft fall behind, causing missed connections and reassignments that stretch into the evening.
Causes and analysis
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the 2025 summer picture points to ongoing operational pressures even as airlines trimmed schedules. Aviation analysts cite three main drivers:
- Weather volatility
- Air traffic control staffing challenges
- High travel demand
While some hubs have improved, the East Coast—particularly New York and Washington—remains the toughest airspace for airlines to keep on time.
The overall system shows strain even with fewer scheduled flights nationwide; historical U.S. cancellation rates often hover between 1–2% a day, and this summer is pushing toward the high end or above.
Policy and passenger rights
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements and consumer protections:
- Airlines must provide prompt refunds when a flight is canceled or there’s a significant schedule change and the passenger chooses not to travel, even on nonrefundable tickets.
- For problems within an airline’s control (e.g., maintenance or crew issues), carriers must follow their public customer service plans, which may include:
- Rebooking
- Meals
- Hotel rooms
The DOT monitors these commitments and pursues enforcement when airlines fail to deliver. Travelers can review airline commitments and refund rules on the DOT’s dashboard:
If a promised refund or amenity is denied, passengers should attempt to resolve the issue with the airline and, if unsuccessful, file a complaint with the DOT.
Note: Federal rules do not require cash compensation for delays as some other countries do, but the DOT’s refund standard for canceled or significantly changed flights is firm.
What to do when disruption hits
When flight delays or cancellations occur, act quickly. Time and sequence matter. Recommended steps:
- Check your flight status in the airline app or via flight-tracker tools for live updates, delay lengths, and gate changes.
- Contact the airline (app, website, or airport desk) to request rebooking on the next available flight.
- If the disruption is within the airline’s control, ask about meals or hotel accommodations.
- If you don’t want to travel after a cancellation or significant change, request a full refund (not a voucher).
- If the airline refuses a refund you’re owed, collect written proof of the cancellation/schedule change and file a complaint with the DOT.
- Consider purchasing travel insurance before your trip; some policies pay benefits for long delays and extra costs.
Practical tips for planning:
- Book early morning departures and leave extra buffer time between connections.
- When New York faces ground stops, consider rebooking through cities with better weather performance (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, San Francisco, Los Angeles).
Outlook and final takeaways
Even with fewer flights nationwide, the system-wide stress is evident. Key summary points:
- The summer of 2025 shows uneven performance across hubs—some improved, others (notably New York and Washington) saw the steepest cancellation jumps.
- Late-day schedules remain fragile; crews and aircraft rotations magnify delays across the network.
- DOT will continue monitoring performance and may consider tightening passenger protections, especially for disruptions within airline control.
- Airlines say they are targeting hub-specific improvements and investing in technology and staffing to reduce future disruptions.
Practical advice: book early flights, build cushion time, and know your rights. Travelers—especially those flying through New York, Chicago, Denver, Atlanta, and Dallas—should expect crowded terminals and long taxi lines on stormy, high-volume days, and be prepared to act fast to secure refunds or rebookings the DOT requires.
This Article in a Nutshell
Summer 2025 saw higher U.S. flight cancellations (1.8%) and delays (27.3%), driven by weather, staffing and airspace congestion; New York hubs were hardest hit. Passengers should check statuses, rebook quickly, and know DOT refund rights.
