UPDATED: Monday, October 13, at 10:40 a.m.
Travelers heading to airports in the Northeast this Monday are likely to encounter some weather-related challenges due to a nor’easter currently barreling its way along the East Coast, prompting states of emergency in several states and complicating air travel.
The Federal Aviation Administration has posted Ground Delay Programs (GDPs) for several area airports to manage flights through the storms, including John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
According to government data, LaGuardia is currently experiencing a ground stop due to wind through at least 9:00 a.m. EST with average delays at 131 minutes and counting.
JFK and Newark Liberty (EWR) are also experiencing average delays of 15 minutes and counting due to weather challenges.
The top airports facing delays and cancellations include Boston, LaGuardia, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, according to FlightAware.
Travelers are advised to monitor both the weather and their communications with their airline throughout the day.
Travelers in the
Northeast are feeling the impact of the latest nor’easter, as the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued Ground
Delay Programs (GDPs) at multiple major airports on Sunday. The storm,
bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and low clouds, is causing delays that range
from roughly 20 minutes to over an hour, with the potential for longer waits if
weather conditions worsen.
Affected airports
include Boston Logan (BOS), Newark Liberty (EWR), John F. Kennedy (JFK),
LaGuardia (LGA), Philadelphia International (PHL) and Ronald Reagan Washington
National (DCA). A GDP is a tool the FAA uses to manage air traffic when an
airport can’t handle its usual number of incoming flights due to weather-related
challenges or other temporary constraints.
So, what exactly
is a Ground Delay Program? Instead of letting planes take off and circle in
holding patterns, the FAA assigns controlled departure times from origin
airports. This ensures that the number of flights arriving at the affected
airport matches what can safely land in the current weather, helping prevent
congestion and maintaining safety.
According to Philadelphia’s
Fox
29, travelers are facing average delays of 86 minutes, at Boston Logan, while
flights to Newark are seeing delays around 80 minutes. LaGuardia is
experiencing slightly longer average waits at 106 minutes, and JFK isn’t far
behind with an expected 102-minute delay. By contrast, Philadelphia
International and Ronald Reagan are seeing the shortest disruptions, with
averages of 32 minutes and 26 minutes, respectively.
The GDP at DCA,
for example, began at 12:30 p.m. Sunday and is expected to last through roughly
11:00 p.m., allowing 26 arrivals per hour. Flights from across the continental
U.S. as well as some Canadian airports — including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa
and Quebec City — are affected. Meanwhile, similar programs at EWR, BOS, JFK,
LGA and PHL follow the same principle, limiting inbound flights, and extending
to many U.S. departure points and select Canadian airports.
Meteorologists say
the nor’easter is packing gusts up to 60 mph, stretching from Charleston to New
England, according to the New
York Post. Coastal flooding and strong winds are likely, and as the storm
continues, “pop-up” weather events could make delays even longer. Airlines and
air traffic controllers are monitoring conditions in real time and may adjust
or cancel restrictions if the skies clear.
Travelers heading
into the Northeast today are urged to check flight status before leaving for
the airport, expect possible gate delays and build extra time into their travel
plans. Conditions are expected to improve gradually Monday as the storm moves
northeast, but patience will be necessary for anyone flying into or out of the
region today.
This, of course,
comes on top of the flight delays and cancellations being triggered by the ongoing government
shutdown, as air traffic controllers as TSA screeners (who are required to work without pay) continue to call out
sick, creating staffing shortages.
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