If you flew through Newark, New York, or Philadelphia airports this January, you probably felt like you were trapped in some bizarre travel fever dream. According to data collected by AirHelp — the group that tracks flight disruptions — Newark Liberty International, New York’s LaGuardia, and Philadelphia International all ranked among the worst airports in the nation for flight disruptions during January 2026.
Yup, we are among the worst! AirHelp’s numbers don’t sugarcoat it. Newark clocked in with 58.3% of flights disrupted, while LaGuardia wasn’t far behind at 57.5%, and Philadelphia posted a 51.5% disruption rate — all on a list dominated by major hubs like Chicago O’Hare and Detroit Metropolitan.
Newark, LaGuardia and Philly among worst U.S. airports for delays
For folks in New Jersey, that feels about right — especially after one of the wildest weather events we’ve seen in years. Winter Storm Fern barreled up the East Coast in late January, slamming the Northeast with snow, sleet and ice that brought travel to a near standstill. More than 11,000 flights were cancelled nationwide in a single day, making it one of the most disruptive winter travel weekends since the pandemic.
Winter Storm Fern brought Northeast air travel to a standstill
At Newark, the storm wasn’t the only issue. The airport has already been dealing with operational limits and staffing challenges that have dogged flights for months — from capped arrival/departure rates instituted by the FAA to lingering technology and air traffic control strains. So even on a regular winter travel day, delays are more of a rule than an exception.
Just up the Turnpike, LaGuardia outright shut down during Fern, with flights halted for hours and well over 90% of services cancelled at the worst of it. And that’s not counting the standstill at JFK and Newark on the same afternoon — all part of the domino effect when a major hub goes offline…