One day following a significant storm that blanketed the Northeast with over 30 inches of snow in various regions, travel is beginning to improve; however, those with flights scheduled for Tuesday should prepare for delays and set realistic expectations.
On Tuesday, more than 2,100 flights have been canceled, following over 6,100 cancellations by airlines the previous day. Between Sunday and early Tuesday, over 12,000 flights have been impacted nationwide.
As reported by FlightAware, many airports that were affected on Monday continued to experience disruptions on Tuesday. Nearly half of all departures at airports such as Boston Logan International, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International, and John F. Kennedy International were canceled on Tuesday.
Additionally, significant disruptions persist at Ronald Reagan Washington National and in Florida’s hubs like Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and Orlando International, due to issues with aircraft and crew positioning.
Snow Accumulation and Local Travel Updates
Per the National Weather Service, parts of New Jersey and Long Island received over 2 feet of snowfall. New York City, which remained under a travel ban and state emergency until noon on Monday, experienced up to 23 inches in some boroughs, averaging around 20 inches.
The highest snow totals were reported in Rhode Island, with some areas receiving up to 38 inches. Massachusetts, which also saw travel restrictions and a state of emergency on Monday, recorded snow accumulations of up to 34 inches.
Regional bus and train services, including NJ Transit and the Long Island Rail Road, resumed operations on Tuesday with some changes. While many commuter train services are running on a holiday or weekend schedule, the New York City subway continued to operate normally through the storm.
Amtrak, which halted the majority of Northeast rail services on Monday, has restored most of its operations for Tuesday.
Airline Policies on Waivers
The waivers for airline change fees largely remain the same since Monday morning, although some airlines are broadening the options for travelers looking to rebook. Here are the latest updates:
American Airlines
American Airlines has released a travel waiver applicable to 17 airports in the Northeast, including major hubs and coastal areas like Boston (BOS), New York (JFK and LGA), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), and Washington, D.C. (DCA and IAD). This waiver pertains to tickets purchased by February 19 for flights initially scheduled through February 25. Travelers can rebook for flights starting from February 20 to February 28, 2026, with no change fees or fare differences applicable.
Delta Air Lines
Delta’s waiver now encompasses travel to, from, or through several key Northeast airports including Boston (BOS), New York (JFK and LGA), Newark (EWR), Hartford (BDL), Baltimore (BWI), and Providence (PVD).
The waiver extends to tickets issued on or before February 21 for travel scheduled between February 22 and February 25. Delta is permitting passengers to rebook for travel on or before February 28, waiving both the change fee and any fare differences. For travel changes made beyond that date, the change fee might be waived, but any fare differences would apply.
United Airlines
United has implemented a “Northeast Winter Weather” waiver for several airports, including Newark (EWR), Washington-Dulles (IAD), Washington-National (DCA), Boston (BOS), Philadelphia (PHL), and Baltimore (BWI). The waiver covers all tickets purchased prior to February 20 for travel scheduled from February 22 through February 25. United will waive change fees and fare discrepancies for new United-operated flights scheduled to depart by February 27.
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue has issued a waiver for travel involving New York (JFK, LGA, and EWR), Boston (BOS), Philadelphia (PHL), Hartford (BDL), and several other regional destinations, effective for flights through February 26. Passengers may rebook for travel through March 4 without incurring change fees, cancellation fees, or fare differences.
Fonte: Travel Market Report
