Over 500 Flights Cancelled As Storm Erin Sparks Travel Frenzy Across The Us In Illinois, Colorado, California, And New York, Stranding Thousands Of Passengers

Published on August 17, 2025

By: Rana Pratap

Over 500 flights were cancelled and astir 1,800 delayed crossed cardinal U.S. hubs successful Illinois, Colorado, California, and New York arsenic Storm Erin, erstwhile a Category 5 powerhouse now downgraded to a Category 3 storm, unleashed beardown winds and vulnerable upwind conditions that rippled done nan nation’s aviation network. The storm’s far-reaching effect triggered a recreation frenzy, stranding thousands of passengers successful crowded terminals while airlines scrambled to rebook flights, reposition crews, and support up pinch cascading disruptions that showed nary signs of easing.

Flights were cancelled and 1,785 delayed crossed nan United States coming arsenic Hurricane Erin disrupted recreation successful Illinois, Colorado, California, and New York, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. Chicago O’Hare was nan hardest deed pinch 252 cancellations and 299 delays, including SkyWest pinch 75 cancellations (14%) and 60 delays (11%), United pinch 57 cancellations (8%) and 87 delays (13%), Envoy Air pinch 34 cancellations (9%) and 35 delays (10%), GoJet pinch 27 cancellations (21%) and 10 delays (8%), Republic pinch 26 cancellations (14%) and 11 delays (6%), and American Airlines pinch 21 cancellations (5%) and 61 delays (14%), while Air Canada cancelled 77% of its schedule. Denver International reported 15 cancellations and 66 delays, led by Air Canada cancelling 83% of flights, on pinch United, American, Alaska, Delta, and Southwest posting smaller disruptions. Los Angeles International recorded 19 cancellations and 86 delays, pinch Air Canada responsible for 14 cancellations (58%), American and United cancelling 2 each, and Delta delaying 9 flights. LaGuardia successful New York saw 19 cancellations and 100 delays, wherever Air Canada cancelled 15 flights (75%), American and United cancelled 2 each, and Delta, Spirit, and Southwest posted nan largest stock of delays.

National Overview

Across nan United States, disruptions mounted quickly. By midday, location were 439 cancellations and 1,785 delays nationwide, a fig that climbed steadily arsenic nan large wind churned northward. While each regions saw impacts, nan top attraction of cancellations and delays fell connected nan 4 cardinal hubs of Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, and New York, wherever some U.S. carriers and world airlines reported surgery schedules and stranded aircraft.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (Illinois)

Chicago O’Hare was nan epicenter of nan day’s crisis. In total, nan airdrome logged 252 cancellations and 299 delays, making it nan azygous hardest-hit location successful nan nation. Nearly each awesome bearer serving O’Hare was affected.

SkyWest Airlines cancelled 75 flights (14% of its schedule) and delayed 60 more (11%). United Airlines, which maintains a awesome hub successful Chicago, saw 57 cancellations (8%) and 87 delays (13%). Envoy Air cancelled 34 flights (9%) and delayed 35 (10%), while GoJet cancelled 27 flights (21%) and delayed 10 (8%). Republic Airways besides struggled, cancelling 26 flights (14%) and delaying 11 (6%).

American Airlines, different of O’Hare’s cardinal operators, reported 21 cancellations (5%) and 61 delays (14%). International partners were not spared either. Air Canada cancelled seven flights, a striking 77% of its schedule from O’Hare, while PSA Airlines cancelled four flights (19%).

Smaller-scale disruptions rippled done different carriers. Frontier Airlines cancelled one formation (2%) and delayed 2 (5%), Cathay Pacific reported two delays (50%), and China Southern Airlines logged three delays (60%). Delta Air Lines delayed four flights (5%), Endeavor Air 1 (16%), and ITA Airways 2 (100%). Japan Airlines delayed 1 formation (25%), Jazz 1 (10%), and Korean Air 1 (25%).

Cargo and location operators besides faced disruptions: Key Lime Air delayed 2 flights (20%), Nippon Cargo 1 (20%), SAS 1 (50%), Swiss 1 (25%), and TAP Air Portugal 1 (50%). Southwest Airlines delayed 3 flights (11%). Contour Airlines reported five delays (18%), Air India 1 (50%), AeroMéxico 1 (12%), and Alaska Airlines 2 (8%).

Denver International Airport (Colorado)

Denver International was different storm-stressed hub, signaling 15 cancellations and 66 delays. Air Canada bore nan heaviest brunt present arsenic well, cancelling 10 flights, adjacent to 83% of its schedule.

United Airlines cancelled three flights and delayed 20 (2%), while American Airlines cancelled two (3%) and delayed one. Alaska Airlines delayed 2 flights (11%), and Delta Air Lines besides delayed 2 (2%). Lufthansa recorded a azygous hold (25%), and Frontier 1 (0%).

JetBlue delayed 2 flights (20%), Key Lime Air 1 (4%), and SkyWest 13 flights (2%). Southwest Airlines, Denver’s largest operator, saw 21 delays (3%). Smaller carriers for illustration Contour Airlines and Allegiant Air each logged 1 delay.

Los Angeles International Airport (California)

At Los Angeles International, nan country’s busiest West Coast hub, location were 19 cancellations and 86 delays. Air Canada again dominated cancellations pinch 14 flights scrapped (58%), followed by American Airlines and United pinch two cancellations each. El Al cancelled 1 formation (25%).

The ripple of delays was broad. Delta Air Lines logged nine delays (3%), and Southwest Airlines 8 (5%). American Airlines delayed 15 flights (7%), and United 9 (4%). Alaska Airlines delayed 2 flights (2%), JetBlue 2 (4%), and Horizon Air 2 (4%).

International carriers astatine LAX besides suffered. Air France delayed 2 flights (20%), Air Premia 1 (20%), AeroLogic 1 (16%), and China Airlines 2 (25%). Cayman Airways, operating a azygous scheduled flight, saw a 100% hold rate. Air China delayed 1 (12%), China Eastern 1 (50%), China Cargo 1 (20%), Cargolux 1 (25%), Cathay Pacific 1 (16%), Sichuan Airlines 1 (50%), China Southern 1 (14%), and XiamenAir 1 (50%).

Other disruptions included EVA Air (one delay, 14%), Fiji Airways (one delay, 50%), Hawaiian Airlines (three delays, 25%), Japan Airlines (one delay, 14%), Korean Air (three delays, 33%), Breeze Airways (one delay, 12%), Norse Atlantic Airways (one delay, 33%), Qantas (one delay, 14%), Qatar Airways (one delay, 50%), Singapore Airlines (two delays, 28%), and Emirates (one delay, 50%).

LaGuardia Airport (New York)

LaGuardia successful New York rounded retired nan database of heavy disrupted airports pinch 19 cancellations and 100 delays. Air Canada was again hardest hit, cancelling 15 flights, 75% of its schedule there.

American Airlines cancelled two flights (2%) and delayed 14 (16%), while United cancelled 2 (3%) and delayed 11 (19%). Delta Air Lines, nan largest usability astatine LaGuardia, reported 26 delays (15%), and Endeavor Air added 10 (4%).

Frontier Airlines delayed 2 flights (14%), JetBlue 1 (3%), Spirit Airlines 10 (35%), Republic Airways six (1%), SkyWest 1 (9%), and Southwest Airlines 19 (29%).

Hurricane Erin’s Strength and Path

The aviation illness came arsenic Hurricane Erin, which concisely peaked arsenic a Category 5 large wind pinch winds of 160 mph, was downgraded to a Category 3 pinch sustained winds adjacent 125 mph. At 11 a.m. ET, nan National Hurricane Center placed nan large wind astir 200 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Although nan hurricane’s halfway is not expected to make landfall successful nan continental United States, nan large wind is driving vulnerable surf and rip currents on nan East Coast. Erin is projected to walk eastbound of nan Turks and Caicos Islands and nan southeastern Bahamas connected August 17 and 18.

Power Outages successful nan Caribbean

Beyond airports, nan large wind caused awesome electrical outages successful nan U.S. Virgin Islands. On St. Thomas, 19,126 of 23,252 customers mislaid power, leaving astir nan full land successful darkness. Smaller but important outages were besides recorded successful St. John and St. Croix.

Stranded Travelers

The mixed full of much than 500 cancellations and astir 1,800 delays has near airports packed pinch stranded passengers. Airlines including United, American, and Delta are issuing waivers to let passengers to rebook flights without penalty, but rebookings are constricted arsenic craft and crews stay scattered.

At O’Hare, lines stretched crossed terminals arsenic passengers scrambled to unafraid alternate flights. In Denver, travelers faced agelong waits arsenic gross changes and rolling delays piled up. Los Angeles passengers confronted akin chaos, pinch world carriers specified arsenic Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, and China Airlines struggling to supply rebooking options. In New York, LaGuardia’s congestion pushed galore passengers to adjacent airports successful hopes of escaping nan gridlock.

Over 500 flights were cancelled crossed Illinois, Colorado, California, and New York arsenic Hurricane Erin’s powerful winds and vulnerable conditions disrupted airports, sparking a nationwide recreation frenzy and leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

A Long Travel Weekend Ahead

As Hurricane Erin continues to way north, nan disruptions are expected to linger. Even without a nonstop U.S. landfall, nan storm’s power connected Atlantic and East Coast upwind patterns will apt proceed to ripple done nan aerial recreation strategy for days. With highest summertime recreation request still successful afloat swing, today’s recreation frenzy whitethorn only beryllium nan commencement of a turbulent play for passengers crossed nan country.