Alerts Sign-up
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), weather is the leading cause of flight delays in the United States, with 371,534 late arrivals recorded over a recent 12-month period. Thunderstorms are the primary disruptors, followed by fog and low cloud ceilings. The impact of summer thunderstorms aligns with peak passenger travel times, while winter snowstorms result in de-icing queues and runway closures.
Airlines for America reported that weather-induced delays cost the US economy $33 billion in 2019. The FAA's NextGen Weather program aims to reduce national weather delays by one-third once fully operational.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) has a delay rate of 62.85%, attributed to snow, low clouds/fog, wind, and thunderstorms causing 190,539 delays in 2024. Senate Leader Chuck Schumer has called for "a full Inspector General investigation into what happened at Newark" following significant disruptions affecting hundreds of flights. United Airlines dominates traffic at EWR.
