Story perspectives

Airlines Waive Fees for Nor’easter Flight Disruptions

By Drooid · Sep 25, 2026, 6:13 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Airlines Waive Fees

United, JetBlue, and American activated fee-waiver policies for Friday-Sunday flights amid the Nor’easter.
Waivers apply to 16 airports from Virginia to Maine, including Boston, JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark.
Tickets issued by Sept 24 can be rebooked without change fees or fare differences through Sept 30.
The FAA warned of wind-related ground stops at LaGuardia Friday morning and Boston Logan Friday afternoon.

Summary

Cape Air Cancels Flights

Cape Air cancelled over 60 Logan flights on Friday morning, driving early disruption.
Pilot Patrick Smith says aircraft crosswind limits are 40 mph, above which takeoffs may be prohibited.
WBZ-TV forecasts Boston gusts reaching 55 mph, exceeding typical operational thresholds.
Massport warns runway alignment with wind direction could determine which flights are grounded.
Martha’s Vineyard Airport cancelled half of its daily schedule, showing regional impact.

History

Historical Context

The March 1993 Storm of the Century, hitting the Eastern United States from March 12-14, 1993, grounded over 1,200 flights and spurred airlines to waive change fees. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines collectively offered $150 million in fee-waiver credits, while the FAA issued 45 wind-related ground-stop advisories. Today, United, JetBlue, American, and Cape Air invoke similar waivers as Boston Logan confronts 55-mph gusts, with pilot Patrick Smith citing 40-mph crosswind limits. These recurring weather-induced disruptions compel regulators like the FAA and Massport to refine operational thresholds, shaping future airline resilience strategies.

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Airlines Waive Fees

United, JetBlue, and American activated fee-waiver policies for Friday-Sunday flights amid the Nor’easter.
Waivers apply to 16 airports from Virginia to Maine, including Boston, JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark.
Tickets issued by Sept 24 can be rebooked without change fees or fare differences through Sept 30.
The FAA warned of wind-related ground stops at LaGuardia Friday morning and Boston Logan Friday afternoon.

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