Thousands of air travelers across the United States faced a fresh wave of disruption on Wednesday, January 28, as more than a thousand delays and nearly 500 new flight cancellations rippled through major hubs including Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Dallas.

Data from flight tracking services showed at least 1,055 delays and 486 cancellations nationwide, with American Airlines and several other major carriers struggling to restore normal operations after days of turmoil linked to severe winter weather and ongoing recovery challenges.

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Fresh Chaos at Major US Hubs

Airports along both coasts and across the Sun Belt experienced another punishing day of irregular operations, with passengers reporting extensive lines at ticket counters, missed connections, and limited rebooking options. Miami International, Los Angeles International, Seattle-Tacoma, San Francisco International, Phoenix Sky Harbor, and Dallas Fort Worth were among the hardest-hit, each handling significant clusters of grounded or late-running flights as knock-on effects from previous days continued to cascade through the system.

In Dallas, a central hub for American Airlines, long queues formed early in the morning as travelers attempting to depart or connect through the airport encountered rolling delays. Similar scenes unfolded at Miami and Phoenix, where travelers destined for Latin America, the Caribbean, and domestic resort markets were forced to wait out cancellations that often came with little advance notice.

At West Coast gateways in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, the situation was compounded by tight aircraft and crew availability after storm-related disruptions across the central and eastern United States. Even where local weather was calm, aircraft scheduled to operate flights from these cities were arriving late or not at all, leaving airlines scrambling to reposition planes and staff.

American Airlines Under Pressure as Cancellations Mount

American Airlines has been at the center of the latest wave of travel chaos, bearing a disproportionate share of cancellations and delays in the wake of the powerful January 2026 winter storm system widely referred to as Winter Storm Fern. The carrier has already described the past several days as marking the highest number of weather-related cancellations in its history, and Wednesday’s fresh disruptions added to the mounting totals.

According to real-time flight data and network analyses, American accounted for a large share of the 486 new cancellations and many of the 1,055 delays reported nationwide. Its expansive domestic network and dependence on weather-vulnerable hubs such as Dallas Fort Worth left the airline particularly exposed, especially as it worked to reposition aircraft and crews that had been stranded or put out of rotation by earlier storms and ground stops.

The airline has emphasized that safety remains its top priority, repeatedly stressing that decisions to cancel or delay flights are driven by weather conditions, airfield safety considerations, and crew duty-time limits. In a recent statement, American highlighted efforts to provide flexible rebooking options, waive certain change fees in affected regions, and strengthen staffing levels at key hubs to manage the surge in displaced travelers.

Winter Storm Fern’s Long Shadow Over US Air Travel

The latest disruptions cannot be separated from the broader impact of Winter Storm Fern, a sprawling and intense winter system that has battered large swaths of the United States since forming around January 22. The storm brought a dangerous mix of heavy snow, ice, sleet, and strong winds that stretched from the Four Corners region through the Midwest and into the Northeast, triggering widespread road closures, power outages, and transportation shutdowns.

By January 25, Fern was already being described by meteorologists as potentially historic, with winter weather alerts and emergency declarations affecting more than 200 million people. Air travel quickly became one of the most visible casualties: tens of thousands of flights were canceled or delayed over several consecutive days, putting pressure on airlines, airports, and the federal air traffic system.

Industry trackers reported that January 25 ranked among the worst days for weather-related flight cancellations in modern US aviation history, with more than 10,000 flights scrubbed by mid-day and over 11,000 by the evening. In total, estimates suggest that around 20,000 flights were canceled between Friday and early this week, creating a massive backlog that airlines are still working to clear even as new operational challenges emerge.

Why the Disruptions Are Lingering

Although the core of Winter Storm Fern has moved away from several regions, the country’s aviation system remains badly out of sync. Modern airline networks operate with tight scheduling and high aircraft utilization, meaning there is limited slack to absorb large-scale weather disruptions. When thousands of flights are canceled in a short period, aircraft and crews often end up in the wrong place, and recovery can take days even after skies clear.

American Airlines and other major carriers have been forced to cancel additional flights strategically to reset their operations. That can mean grounding certain routes for portions of the day while focusing available planes and employees on key corridors or heavily booked flights. While this approach can speed overall recovery, it also prolongs the pain for travelers whose flights fall on the wrong side of these operational decisions.

Airports such as Dallas Fort Worth and Miami illustrate the scale of the challenge. Both serve as critical connecting hubs, so disruptions there ripple outward across dozens of smaller cities that rely on these gateways for long-haul and international connections. Even when conditions improve at the hubs, tight crew rest rules, maintenance checks, and limited gate space can slow the pace of restoration.

Passengers Confront Long Lines, Limited Options and Mounting Costs

For travelers on the ground, the numbers translate into very personal and often costly ordeals. Passengers at Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Dallas have reported spending hours in line to rebook, sometimes only to be offered flights days later due to limited seat availability. With so many travelers displaced at once, same-day alternatives are scarce and premium.

Many stranded passengers are shouldering unexpected expenses for hotels, meals, and ground transportation, particularly when cancellations are attributed to weather rather than airline-controlled issues. While some carriers have provided hotel vouchers in isolated cases, official policies typically do not require compensation when disruptions are caused by severe weather events, leaving many families and business travelers to cover costs out of pocket.

Travelers have increasingly turned to airline apps, call centers, and social media channels in search of quicker solutions, but high call volumes and overloaded systems have led to long waits. Consumer advocates advise passengers to use multiple channels simultaneously, including mobile apps, website chat features, and airport agents, while also checking whether itineraries can be rerouted through less congested hubs.

Strain on an Already Scrutinized Industry

The storm-related meltdown and Wednesday’s renewed disruptions come at a time when US airlines are already under intense scrutiny over reliability, staffing, and customer service. Recent rankings of domestic carriers have placed American near the bottom on several performance measures, including cancellation rates and mishandled baggage, even before the added stress of this winter’s severe weather pattern.

Critics argue that the industry’s drive for efficiency, including tight scheduling, lean spare capacity, and complex hub-and-spoke networks, leaves it vulnerable to precisely the kind of cascading failures now on display. Supporters of the airlines contend that the sheer scale and intensity of storms such as Fern would challenge even the most robust system, and point to overall improvements in long-term cancellation rates compared with the early years of the pandemic.

Regulators and policymakers in Washington are expected to monitor how airlines handle reimbursement, rebooking and communication with passengers during this period. Recent discussions around a possible US version of passenger rights rules similar to those in Europe, which mandate compensation in certain disruption scenarios, may gain renewed energy as travelers share their experiences from this latest crisis.

What Travelers Can Do if Their Flight Is Affected

With disruptions still ongoing and recovery expected to take several days in some markets, travel experts recommend that passengers with upcoming flights remain proactive. Checking flight status frequently in the 24 hours before departure, enabling airline app notifications, and confirming that the carrier has up-to-date contact details can all improve the chances of receiving early warning about schedule changes.

Experts also advise that passengers consider rebooking to early-morning flights, which are statistically less likely to be affected by knock-on delays that build later in the day. In major hubs such as Dallas, Miami, and Los Angeles, travelers with flexible plans may find better odds by accepting connections through less congested airports instead of insisting on the most popular nonstop routes.

For those already stranded, it can be useful to research alternate airports within driving distance, particularly in regions with multiple medium-sized facilities. In some cases, flying out of a secondary airport the following day can be faster than waiting for a heavily oversold rebooked departure from a saturated mega-hub. Keeping receipts for all disruption-related expenses is also recommended, as some costs may be reimbursable through travel insurance or credit card benefits, even when airlines are not required to pay.

FAQ

Q1: Why are there so many flight delays and cancellations today?
Severe winter weather linked to Winter Storm Fern, combined with the lingering effects of earlier mass cancellations, has created a nationwide backlog. Crews and aircraft are out of position, so carriers are delaying or canceling additional flights to safely rebuild their schedules.

Q2: Which airports are currently the most affected?
Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Dallas are among the hardest-hit, with significant clusters of delays and cancellations. As key hubs, disruptions there are also affecting many smaller airports that rely on them for connections.

Q3: Is American Airlines the only carrier experiencing major problems?
No. While American Airlines has been particularly impacted due to its large hub operations in weather-affected regions, other major US airlines are also facing delays and cancellations. The scale of Winter Storm Fern has strained the entire national air travel system.

Q4: How long will it take for schedules to return to normal?
Recovery from a disruption of this magnitude typically takes several days. Even after weather improves, airlines need time to reposition aircraft, match crews to flights within legal duty limits, and clear the backlog of stranded passengers.

Q5: What rights do passengers have when flights are canceled due to weather?
In the United States, airlines are generally not required to provide compensation or hotel vouchers when cancellations are caused by weather or other factors outside their control. They are, however, required to either refund your ticket if the flight is canceled or rebook you on a later flight.

Q6: What is the best way to rebook if my flight is disrupted?
Experts recommend using multiple channels at once: the airline’s mobile app, website, customer service phone line, and airport ticket counter if you are already at the airport. Apps often update first, but agents can sometimes see creative routing options that automated systems miss.

Q7: Can I switch to another airline if my current carrier has no seats available?
It depends on the policies of your original airline and the circumstances of the disruption. During severe events, some airlines may place passengers on other carriers through interline agreements, but this is not guaranteed and is handled on a case-by-case basis.

Q8: Will travel insurance cover my extra expenses?
Many comprehensive travel insurance policies and some premium credit cards may reimburse costs such as hotels, meals, and ground transport when trips are disrupted by severe weather, subject to policy terms and documentation. Travelers should keep all receipts and contact their insurer or card provider to confirm coverage.

Q9: What can I do to reduce my risk of being stranded on future trips?
Booking nonstop flights where possible, choosing early-morning departures, allowing generous connection times, and avoiding tight layovers at major hubs during peak storm seasons can all reduce risk. Purchasing flexible tickets or travel protection can also provide more options if plans change suddenly.

Q10: Is it safe to fly when there are major winter storms?
Airlines and air traffic controllers will not operate flights they deem unsafe. Cancellations and delays are often a sign that carriers are erring on the side of caution, suspending operations in affected areas until runways, taxiways, and air routes can be used safely again.