Additional Coverage:
JFK’s Terminal 4 Hit by System Outage, Stranding Travelers Ahead of Thanksgiving Rush
Chaos erupted at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday as a widespread system outage brought operations in Terminal 4 to a grinding halt. Travelers reported that computer systems across the terminal were down, leading to long lines and significant delays, all just days before the peak Thanksgiving travel season.
Videos shared by frustrated passengers on social media showed hundreds of people standing idly, unable to check in or proceed through security. Etihad Airways, a major operator out of Terminal 4, confirmed the system disruption via its guest relations account, stating, “There is a system outage in JFK T4 that is affecting the entire terminal, the airport teams are working on this and will assist you as soon as possible.”
A traveler, who arrived at 11:20 a.m. EST, reported at 12:46 p.m. that lines had not moved, confirming that “All of the airlines at terminal four are experiencing the same issue.”
The timing of the outage couldn’t be worse, as millions of Americans are preparing to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday. AAA predicts a record-setting travel season, with an estimated 81.8 million people expected to journey at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday, November 25, and Monday, December 1. This represents an increase of 1.6 million travelers compared to last year.
While nearly 90% of Thanksgiving travelers are expected to drive, recent flight cancellations and now this system outage could prompt even more people to opt for road travel. The Federal Aviation Administration recently announced a reduction in required flight cuts at 40 major airports, with airlines now needing to cancel 3% of flights instead of 6% starting November 15. However, the current situation at JFK’s Terminal 4 highlights the ongoing vulnerabilities in air travel infrastructure as the country heads into its busiest travel period.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has been contacted for further details regarding the system outage and its anticipated resolution.