US Flights in Crisis — 369 Cancelled, 3,458 Delayed Nationwide Today

Quick Summary

369 flights cancelled and 3,458 delayed across the United States today, affecting millions of travelers

Chicago O'Hare is the worst-hit airport — 169 cancellations and 509 delays in a single day

SkyWest leads cancellations (61), United Airlines leads delays (237); American Airlines posts 43 cancellations and 181 delays

Chicago, Houston, Washington DC, Boston, Orlando, New York, and Miami are all severely impacted

Thousands Stranded Across the US as 369 Cancellations and 3,458 Delays Hit Today

Thousands of passengers are grounded across the United States today as the domestic aviation network records 369 flight cancellations and 3,458 delays — one of the most significant single-day disruption events of the year. Chicago, Houston, Washington DC, Boston, New York, Orlando, and Miami are all reporting major schedule failures, with United Airlines, SkyWest, American Airlines, Republic Airways, and Southwest Airlines among the hardest-hit carriers. The scale of disruption is affecting both domestic routes and international connections through these major hub airports.

Airport-by-Airport: Chicago O'Hare Takes the Biggest Hit

Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the single most disrupted airport in the country today — recording 509 delays and 169 cancellations. United Airlines, SkyWest, and American Airlines are responsible for the majority of O'Hare's operational failures.

The remaining major hubs round out a bleak picture for travelers across the country:

Airport	Cancellations	Delays
Chicago O'Hare (ORD)	169	509
George Bush Intercontinental, Houston (IAH)	32	302
Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)	16	243
Boston Logan International (BOS)	14	203
New York JFK (JFK)	10	153
Orlando International (MCO)	12	135
LaGuardia Airport, New York (LGA)	17	113
Miami International (MIA)	10	103

Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport recorded the second-highest delay count at 302, with 32 cancellations. Reagan National in Washington DC followed with 243 delays and 16 cancellations — heavily impacting domestic routes on the East Coast.

Airline-by-Airline Figures: SkyWest and United Lead Cancellations

Airline	Cancellations	Delays
SkyWest	61	113
United Airlines	54	237
American Airlines	43	181
Southwest Airlines	5	152
Republic Airways	15	119
Envoy Air	8	94
Endeavor Air	6	78
Air Canada	8	10

Key standouts:

SkyWest — 61 cancellations, the highest of any single carrier, concentrated at Chicago O'Hare and Houston Bush
United Airlines — 237 delays across Chicago, Houston, Orlando, Boston, and Miami
American Airlines — 43 cancellations and 181 delays at Chicago, Boston, Miami, and Orlando
Southwest Airlines — only 5 cancellations but 152 delays, reflecting widespread schedule slippage at Orlando, Reagan National, and LaGuardia
Republic Airways — 15 cancellations and 119 delays at O'Hare, Reagan National, and JFK
Air Canada — 8 cancellations affecting Miami, Boston, and Houston

Other carriers reporting disruptions today include Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Spirit, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Frontier, PSA Airlines, and Endeavor Air.

Airport Spotlight: New York, Boston, and Miami

Boston Logan (BOS): 203 delays and 14 cancellations, with JetBlue, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Republic Airways all affected. Boston's strong international connectivity means delays here ripple outward to transatlantic routes.

New York JFK (JFK): 153 delays and 10 cancellations. Endeavor Air, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines are among the carriers experiencing disruption. JFK's international traffic makes knock-on effects especially severe.

LaGuardia (LGA): 113 delays and 17 cancellations, with disruption concentrated among regional operators including Endeavor Air and Republic Airways, alongside Southwest and American Airlines.

Miami International (MIA): 103 delays and 10 cancellations. American Airlines and Air Canada are among the carriers impacted, affecting both domestic services and international routes to Latin America and Canada.

Orlando International (MCO): 135 delays and 12 cancellations hit Southwest, United, and American Airlines — a particularly painful disruption for leisure travelers during what is peak spring break season.

Key Facts: US Flight Disruptions, March 12, 2026

Total cancellations (nationwide): 369
Total delays (nationwide): 3,458
Worst airport: Chicago O'Hare — 169 cancellations, 509 delays
Most cancellations (airline): SkyWest — 61
Most delays (airline): United Airlines — 237
Also affected: Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Frontier, PSA Airlines
Hardest-hit cities: Chicago, Houston, Washington DC, Boston, New York, Orlando, Miami
Source: FlightAware and individual airport data

What This Means for Travelers

With 3,458 delays on the board today, even flights that have not been cancelled may arrive significantly off schedule. Connecting passengers at Chicago O'Hare — the country's most disrupted hub — face particularly high risks of missed onward flights.

What affected passengers should do right now:

Check flight status before leaving for the airport — use your airline's official app or website; situation is updating in real time
Contact your airline immediately for rebooking if your flight is cancelled — availability on alternative flights will tighten throughout the day
Allow significant extra time at O'Hare, Houston, Washington DC, and Boston — security lines and gate changes are compounding schedule delays
Pack essentials in carry-on — travel documents, medication, chargers, and valuables in case checked baggage is delayed
Ask about nearby airport alternatives if your hub is severely disrupted — passengers near Chicago may explore Milwaukee or Midway; New York travelers can check Newark
Know your rights — under US DOT rules, passengers on cancelled domestic flights are entitled to a full refund; airlines must also provide meals and accommodation in certain delay scenarios

US Aviation Under Pressure

Today's figures represent a nationwide operational stress event. With 369 cancellations and 3,458 delays across eight of America's busiest airports, travelers across the country are facing significant uncertainty. Chicago O'Hare's near-system-wide breakdown — driven by the combined disruption of United, SkyWest, and American — is creating cascading effects that will extend into tomorrow's schedule as aircraft and crew repositioning takes time to resolve. Travelers with upcoming journeys through any of the affected hubs should monitor their bookings closely and maintain direct contact with their carriers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many flights have been cancelled and delayed in the US today? As of March 12, 2026, US airports have recorded 369 flight cancellations and 3,458 delays nationwide, according to FlightAware. Chicago O'Hare is the worst-affected single airport with 169 cancellations and 509 delays.

Which airline has the most cancellations in the US today? SkyWest leads with 61 cancellations, followed by United Airlines (54) and American Airlines (43). United Airlines has the highest delay count at 237.

Which US airports are most affected by today's disruptions? Chicago O'Hare (169 cancellations, 509 delays) is the worst-hit. Other severely impacted airports include Houston George Bush Intercontinental (32 cancelled, 302 delayed), Washington Reagan National (16 cancelled, 243 delayed), and Boston Logan (14 cancelled, 203 delayed).

Are US passengers entitled to compensation for today's cancellations? Under US Department of Transportation regulations, passengers on cancelled flights are entitled to a full refund if they choose not to travel. For significant delays, airlines may provide meal vouchers and accommodation depending on the cause and duration. Passengers should contact their airline directly at the airport or via customer service to understand specific options and entitlements.