A massive winter storm has hammered Boston and much of New England, dumping well over a foot of snow across the region and bringing operations at Boston Logan International Airport close to a standstill. With hundreds of flights canceled or delayed on some of the busiest travel days of the winter, passengers are facing long lines, uncertain itineraries, and difficult decisions about whether to travel at all. Here is what you need to know right now about the storm’s impact on Logan, how airlines are responding, and how you can navigate the disruption as smoothly as possible.
How Hard the Snowstorm Hit Boston and Logan Airport
The late January 2026 winter storm, part of a powerful system that swept from the southern Rockies through the Northeast, delivered some of the heaviest snowfall Boston has seen in years. Official measurements at Boston Logan International Airport reached close to two feet of snow by the time the system moved offshore, placing the event among the city’s larger historic storms.
Snow began in earnest over the weekend and intensified quickly, with rates at times approaching several inches per hour across eastern Massachusetts. Roads became snow covered and slick despite aggressive plowing, and visibility dropped sharply as winds strengthened. The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds created blizzard-like conditions in coastal areas and made it difficult for airport crews to keep runways and taxiways clear.
By Sunday evening, Logan had recorded well over a foot and a half of snow, and totals continued to climb into Monday. For Boston residents, it was the biggest snow event since at least early 2022, and for many newer arrivals to the city, it was their first taste of a full-scale New England snowstorm that disrupts nearly every aspect of daily life.
The airport’s geography, right on Boston Harbor, made the impact even more intense. Strong winds off the water drove snow across exposed pavement, repeatedly undoing the work of plows and blowers. As accumulation deepened around aircraft and ground equipment, the logistics of simply moving planes, baggage carts, fuel trucks, and deicing rigs became significantly more complex.
Flight Cancellations, Ground Stops, and What It Means for Travelers
The storm’s aviation impact has been sweeping. Nationwide, airlines collectively canceled more than ten thousand flights in a single day as the system marched east, and Boston was among the hardest-hit hubs. At Logan alone, several hundred departures and arrivals were wiped from the schedule in a 24-hour period, with additional cancellations following as the storm lingered and operations struggled to recover.
At the height of the disruption, only a fraction of scheduled flights were able to depart or land. Early on, airlines began preemptively canceling flights to avoid having passengers and planes stranded on tarmacs or in the wrong cities. As snow intensified, the Federal Aviation Administration issued traffic management programs that slowed or temporarily halted arrivals into Boston, effectively turning Logan into a ground-stop airport for certain periods.
For travelers, that has meant packed departure halls full of passengers staring up at boards flashing “Canceled” or “Delayed,” long lines at airline counters, and jammed customer service phone lines and apps. Even those whose flights were not immediately canceled found themselves facing rolling delays as ground crews worked to clear runways, deice aircraft, and handle backlogged operations.
Importantly, the disruption does not end when the snow stops. With aircraft and crew positions scrambled across the country, airlines need time to reset their networks. That means residual disruptions can drag on for days after the last flakes have fallen, with some flights consolidated, retimed, or canceled to simplify operations while carriers rebuild normal schedules.
What Airlines Are Doing: Waivers, Rebooking, and Refunds
In anticipation of the storm, major airlines serving Logan, including American, Delta, United, JetBlue, and Southwest, activated weather waivers for Boston and other Northeast airports. These waivers generally allow passengers ticketed to travel on specific storm-affected dates to change their itineraries once without paying the usual change fees. In many cases, if you rebook within a short, defined window and keep the same cabin and city pairs, even the fare difference may be waived.
Policies vary by airline and by fare type, but there are broad patterns. Many carriers are permitting free changes for travel originally scheduled over the core storm days, provided new travel occurs within about a week or two of the original date. Some are also offering the option to cancel the trip entirely and retain the value of the ticket as a travel credit for future use.
For flights that the airline cancels outright, you are typically entitled to a refund back to your original form of payment if you choose not to travel, even if your ticket was a nonrefundable one. Passengers who want to proceed with their trips can request rebooking on the next available flight with open seats, though in a disruption of this scale, “next available” may mean a day or more later, particularly on popular routes.
Because the storm has affected a broad swath of the country, airlines are also managing disruptions at connecting hubs such as New York, Washington, and Philadelphia. That means passengers who are not flying to or from Boston but are scheduled to connect through Logan or another impacted airport may find their itineraries similarly affected. Being proactive about checking waiver eligibility and rebooking before flights cancel can improve your odds of securing seats that align with your preferred timing.
Practical Advice if You Have a Flight Through Logan
If you are scheduled to fly into or out of Boston within a few days of a major winter storm, the most important step is to avoid making unnecessary trips to the airport. Instead, monitor your flight status through your airline’s app or website and sign up for text or email alerts so you receive real-time updates. Logan’s operator, Massport, and local news outlets are also providing regular updates on airport conditions and public transport status, but your airline remains the final authority on your specific flight.
For travelers whose flights have not yet been canceled but are at risk, consider using the weather waiver proactively. If your plans are flexible, moving your travel a day or two later can spare you hours in lines and airport lounges while giving airlines more breathing room to operate safely. If timing is critical, explore alternative routings, nearby airports in New England, or even rail options along the Northeast Corridor, keeping in mind that those modes can also be affected by snow and ice.
If you are already at Logan when your flight is canceled, get into multiple “queues” at once. Stand in line for an airline agent at the gate or ticket counter, but also call the airline on your phone and use its app to explore self-service rebooking options. Sometimes the app or website will show seats that agents have not yet accessed, and you can secure a new itinerary with a few taps rather than waiting at the desk.
Travelers should also prepare for the possibility of an unexpected overnight stay. Hotels near Logan and in downtown Boston can fill quickly during major disruptions, and rates may spike. If you suspect your flight may not operate, look into accommodation options early and confirm the airline’s policy on vouchers. In severe weather, airlines are not always obligated to provide hotel or meal vouchers, since storms are considered outside their control, but policies can vary and agents sometimes have discretion, particularly for families with children or elderly passengers.
Conditions on the Ground: Roads, Transit, and Safety
Even for those who are not flying, the storm’s impact around Boston and eastern Massachusetts has been substantial. The state highway system experienced hundreds of crashes and disabled vehicles as snow accumulated and visibility worsened. Authorities reduced speed limits on key corridors, including Interstate 90, and urged residents to stay off the roads unless travel was essential.
Within the city, Boston officials declared a snow emergency, triggering parking bans on major arteries and allowing plows to operate more effectively. Public works crews deployed hundreds of plows and spreaders and tapped large reserves of road salt, but the sheer intensity and duration of the snowfall meant that many side streets remained difficult to navigate well into the cleanup period.
For travelers trying to reach Logan, these conditions add another layer of complexity. While airport roads and tunnels are prioritized for clearing, access can still be slow and unpredictable in the hours and days after a major storm. The MBTA, which operates Boston’s subway, buses, and commuter rails, can experience delays and reduced service due to snow-covered tracks, frozen switches, and equipment issues. Leave extra time for any journey to the airport and build in contingencies in case your chosen route is partially shut down.
Safety should override schedule pressure. If local authorities advise against driving or if conditions look especially hazardous, it may be wiser to stay put and rebook rather than attempting a risky drive or trek to the airport. Travelers with early-morning departures should be particularly cautious, as overnight refreezing after a day of melting can create black ice on bridges, overpasses, and untreated surfaces.
When Will Logan Operations Return to Normal?
One of the most pressing questions for travelers is how long the disruption will last. The answer depends on several variables: how quickly snow crews can fully clear runways and taxiways, how soon winds diminish enough for safe operations, and how rapidly airlines can reposition aircraft and crews.
Airport officials in Boston have indicated that while basic runway operations can often resume within hours after the heaviest snow ends, it can take much longer to restore normal capacity. In this storm’s case, Logan saw hundreds of cancellations over at least two consecutive days, essentially forcing a partial reset of airline schedules. Ground handling teams must dig out gates, restore normal fueling and baggage operations, and clear deicing backlogs before traffic can return to normal flow.
Airlines will typically start with a limited schedule, prioritizing key trunk routes and flights that help reposition aircraft and crews where they are most needed. That can mean that some smaller markets continue to see limited or no service for a little longer, and that time-sensitive flights, such as those tied to business or international connections, are prioritized in rebooking efforts.
Passengers should expect at least a couple of days of ripple effects, even if the skies are blue and the runways appear clear. Schedules may show occasional gaps, and some flights may be retimed with relatively short notice as carriers refine their recovery plans. Staying flexible and continuing to monitor your reservation, even after you have been rebooked, can help you respond quickly to any late changes.
The Takeaway
This latest winter storm has underscored just how vulnerable even well-equipped northern airports are to extreme weather. Boston Logan International Airport, used to dealing with snow, was nonetheless forced into a near shutdown as snow totals surged past a foot and a half, winds whipped across its exposed runways, and flight cancellations cascaded through airline networks across the country.
For travelers, the keys to navigating such disruption are preparation, flexibility, and patience. Understand your airline’s weather waiver policies, act early when storms are forecast, and do as much as possible online or through mobile apps rather than at the airport counter. Build extra time into your plans, and remember that conditions on the roads and rails are just as important as conditions in the skies.
Above all, keep perspective. While canceled flights and disrupted plans can be hugely frustrating, the complex system of snowplow operators, air traffic controllers, airline staff, and ground crews working through the storm are focused on a single priority: safety. As Boston digs out and Logan gradually returns to normal, travelers who stay informed and adaptable will be best positioned to get where they need to go with the least additional stress.
FAQ
Q1: How many flights have been canceled at Logan because of this snowstorm?
By the height of the storm, several hundred flights at Logan had been canceled over a roughly 24-hour window, with more cancellations occurring into the following day as airlines and airport crews worked to restore safe operations. Exact numbers fluctuate throughout the day as airlines adjust schedules and conditions evolve.
Q2: Is Logan Airport currently closed?
Logan has largely remained technically open, but at times it has operated with very limited capacity, similar in effect to a closure for many passengers. Even when the airport is officially open, flight operations can be heavily curtailed, with long gaps between departures and arrivals.
Q3: What should I do if my flight shows “delayed” but not “canceled”?
If your flight is delayed, monitor it closely through your airline’s app or website. Delays during major storms can change rapidly, and a delay can turn into a cancellation with little notice. You may be able to proactively switch to a later flight under the airline’s weather waiver if you prefer more certainty.
Q4: Am I entitled to a refund if my flight is canceled due to weather?
In most cases, if the airline cancels your flight and you choose not to travel, you are entitled to a refund to your original form of payment, even on nonrefundable fares. If you still want to travel, the airline will typically offer to rebook you on the next available flight at no additional cost.
Q5: Will the airline pay for my hotel if I am stranded overnight in Boston?
Airlines are not generally required to cover hotel costs when disruptions are caused by weather, which is considered outside their control. Policies vary, and some carriers may offer vouchers as a goodwill gesture, but travelers should be prepared to arrange and pay for their own accommodations in many cases.
Q6: How long will it take for flights at Logan to get back to normal?
Even after the snow stops, it can take several days for schedules to fully normalize. Runways must be cleared, aircraft and crews need to be repositioned, and airlines must work through backlogs of passengers. Most travelers should expect residual delays and occasional cancellations for at least a day or two after the storm.
Q7: Is it safer to drive instead of fly during a major snowstorm?
Driving during a major snowstorm can be extremely hazardous, with reduced visibility, slick roads, and heightened risk of accidents. If authorities advise staying off the roads, it is usually wise to heed that guidance. In many cases, postponing travel altogether is safer than switching from air to road during the height of the storm.
Q8: How can I avoid getting stuck at the airport during future storms?
To reduce the risk of being stranded, monitor weather forecasts for your origin, route, and destination, sign up for airline alerts, and take advantage of proactive waivers when they are offered. Traveling earlier or later than the storm’s peak, booking nonstop flights instead of connections, and scheduling morning departures can also help improve your odds.
Q9: Are international flights affected as much as domestic ones?
International flights to and from Logan are also affected when runways and taxiways are compromised or when air traffic control restricts arrivals and departures. However, because these flights are less frequent and higher stakes, airlines may prioritize them in their recovery plans. Travelers on international itineraries should still expect potential delays or rerouting.
Q10: What is the best way to stay updated on Logan Airport conditions?
The most reliable way to stay informed is to check directly with your airline for your specific flight and use its app for real-time updates. In addition, local news outlets and official airport communications provide ongoing information about runway conditions, public transit status, and any special advisories affecting access to Logan.