If you're flying this week, be warned: it's an exceptionally messy time for air travel
Business Insider
February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Travelers in the U.S. face a perfect storm of disruptions as they prepare for flights this week. A powerful winter storm, cartel violence in Mexico, and ongoing TSA challenges due to a partial government shutdown have created a chaotic travel environment. Nearly 9,000 flights were canceled over two days, with the majority attributed to the severe weather battering the Northeast. Major airports like Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, JFK, and Boston Logan saw widespread cancellations, with some reporting over 90% of flights grounded on Monday alone. New York City declared a state of emergency as snowfall exceeded 15 inches at major airports, and parts of Long Island received over 22 inches of snow.
Meanwhile, violence linked to the Mexican drug cartel has caused additional headaches for travelers planning to escape winter in Mexico. Following the military’s killing of cartel leader “El Mencho,” Puerto Vallarta and other areas in Jalisco experienced unrest, including burning cars and stores. Airlines canceled 139 flights in and out of Puerto Vallarta, and U.S. citizens were advised to shelter in place. While Mexican authorities have deployed additional troops to restore calm, many tourists may opt to cancel or postpone their trips.
Adding further complications, the partial government shutdown has suspended TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs, causing delays and confusion at airport security checkpoints nationwide. The shutdown began on February 14 after Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement on DHS
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Originally published on Business Insider on 2/23/2026