UPDATE: A powerful snowstorm has left hundreds of travelers stranded at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) as of late Friday night, with significant disruptions expected to continue into the weekend. The storm has prompted officials to declare a state of emergency across much of New York, and forecasts predict nearly 12 inches of snow in some areas by Saturday afternoon.
As the storm intensified, JFK reported a staggering 158 canceled flights and 204 delays, the highest figures nationwide, according to data from FlightAware. Frustrated passengers found themselves sitting on terminal floors, surrounded by luggage and uncertainty. “I wanted to hang out. I went shopping, but now I have been hanging out at JFK for about eight hours,” said Danniel Sermone, whose return flight to Denver was canceled.
International travelers are among those hardest hit. Mara Pimenta, traveling from São Paulo with her family, expressed her frustration: “I have been on hold for an hour waiting. He told me to just wait. I have nothing. No information, nothing.” Her Latam Airlines flight was canceled without warning, leaving her family scrambling for options.
Compounding the chaos, hotels in the area are fully booked, leaving many travelers without a place to stay. “How can you have an airline with no customer care during a weather emergency?” questioned Chaithanya Sing, whose flight to India was also canceled. She added, “It’s very depressing because my daughter was going to meet her grandparents for the first time.”
Nearby airports are experiencing similar issues, with Newark Liberty International Airport reporting 107 cancellations and LaGuardia Airport seeing 90 flights scrapped. The storm is expected to worsen overnight, with snowfall rates possibly exceeding 2 inches per hour.
New York City officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, are urging residents and travelers to prepare for worsening conditions. “Avoid driving if possible and give yourself extra travel time with public transit if you do need to travel,” Mayor Adams advised. He also encouraged everyone to sign up for Notify NYC for real-time updates.
As the situation unfolds, travelers and families are left awaiting news on their flights and the storm’s impact on travel plans. With winter storm warnings in effect through early Saturday afternoon, the urgency for updates has never been greater.
Stay tuned for further developments as this story continues to evolve.
