Flights in New York City Affected by Wildfire Smoke
As wildfire smoke from Canada continues its smothering descent on the tristate area in the USA (New York/New Jersey/Connecticut), flights in New York City are experiencing significant delays. On June 7, 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary ground stop—a directive that slows or halts entirely the flow of inbound flights—on LaGuardia Airport-bound arrivals. Consequently, around 800 flights landing in New York were delayed from the early hours of June 8.
Newark Liberty International Airport is also reporting numerous delays, while John F. Kennedy International Airport has acknowledged that flights are “currently experiencing arrival and departure delays due to low visibility caused by smoke conditions in the region.”
Reasons Behind the Disruptions
The temporary ground stop was issued due to drastically reduced visibility. The FAA stated, “We have slowed traffic to and from the New York City area airports because of reduced visibility from wildfire smoke. The agency will adjust the volume of traffic to account for the rapidly changing conditions.”
Widespread Impact on U.S. Airports
New York City currently boasts the biggest bubble on Flight Aware’s MiseryMap—an interactive map that illustrates delays and cancellations at major US airports. However, it’s not just the Big Apple affected. Philadelphia International Airport and Dulles International Airport in Washington also reported numerous delays.
Health and Air Quality Concerns
The smoke from wildfires in Quebec, which ignited on June 2, has been traveling throughout the region in recent days, causing unhealthy air quality as far south as Baltimore and Washington, DC. According to reports, weather patterns are not expected to change immediately. Nevertheless, by the weekend, winds are anticipated to shift eastward, which should help alleviate some of the remaining smoke from the region.
Advice for Travelers
Until conditions improve, all airports advise checking with airlines to confirm the status of individual flights. If you find that your flight has been delayed due to the smoke, be prepared for limited recourse. Flights delayed for reasons outside of an airline’s control—such as weather, air traffic control, mechanical issues, and wildfires—leave airlines with minimal responsibility beyond getting passengers to their destination on the next flight out. Travelers are encouraged to reach out to their travel insurance provider or check with credit card companies if they offer travel insurance on purchases like flights.
This article has been updated with the latest information regarding travel disruptions caused by wildfire smoke.
