Blizzard triggers New York City travel ban as airlines cancel thousands of flights
Business Insider
February 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A massive winter storm is set to disrupt travel across the Northeast, with New York City implementing a city-wide travel ban as part of its emergency response. Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency on Sunday, closing all streets, highways, and bridges in NYC from 9 p.m. Sunday until noon Monday. The National Weather Service predicts blizzard conditions and up to 20 inches of snow in the region, with some areas like New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts expecting up to 25 inches.
Air travel is already severely impacted, with airlines canceling over 3,000 flights and delaying nearly 3,000 more as of Sunday afternoon. Major airports including JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Philadelphia, Ronald Reagan Washington National, and Boston Logan International are among those hardest hit. At LaGuardia Airport alone, 82% of Monday’s scheduled flights have been canceled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Adding to the travel chaos, the Department of Homeland Security suspended TSA PreCheck and Global Entry services due to the ongoing partial government shutdown. While these lanes remained operational at major airports on Sunday, the Transportation Security Administration stated it is evaluating operations “case-by-case” as staffing constraints arise. Essential workers like TSA agents are still working during the partial shutdown, though they were previously unpaid for 43 days during a full shutdown earlier this year.
This storm and subsequent disruptions highlight the broader challenges faced by travelers and businesses during severe weather events. The cancell
Verticals
businessfinance
Originally published on Business Insider on 2/22/2026