Bad weather, long security lines cause travel delays at airports
At terminals throughout the region, travelers could be seen sitting on benches — and even on the floor — waiting for updates after their flights were delayed or canceled.
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Air travelers across the New York region faced significant disruptions on Monday as severe weather and long security lines combined to create a difficult day for passengers.
Hundreds of flights were canceled at New York City–area airports, while at least eight flights were canceled at Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma. Airport officials said strong winds and poor visibility were largely to blame.
At terminals throughout the region, travelers could be seen sitting on benches — and even on the floor — waiting for updates after their flights were delayed or canceled.
Samira Hernandez said she learned about her canceled flight shortly after arriving at the airport.
“The minute I showed up at the airport, I got a notification on my phone stating the flight was cancelled,” Hernandez said. “So I was upset about it.”
According to airport officials, difficult weather conditions have made operations challenging throughout the day.
“For us it’s the wind,” said MacArthur Airport Commissioner Rob Schneider. “We have sustained winds of about 25 mph with potential gusts of 50 mph. We also have had visibility issues.”
The weather problems are also compounding another issue affecting travelers - long wait times at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints.
Because of the partial federal government shutdown, some TSA operations have slowed, leading to longer security lines at major airports.
At John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday morning, some travelers reported waiting more than an hour just to pass through security screening.
“It’s crowded. The regular security line was wrapped around,” said traveler Grace Hammond.
Another passenger, Kira Hogan, described the situation as confusing and slow-moving.
“There were a bunch of lines that weren’t going anywhere,” Hogan said.
Travel experts say passengers should allow extra time at the airport, especially during peak travel periods when flights are already operating at near capacity.
“Right now it’s peak season. The flights are full,” said Matthew Kondrup, of Matty K Travel Group. “Even today, with the weather cancellations and the weather delays, you have to leave yourself extra time.”
Officials recommend arriving at the airport as early as four hours before departure to avoid missing flights due to long security lines.
Travelers are also urged to check with their airline before leaving for the airport to confirm that their flight is still on schedule.
