Passengers were left stunned yesterday as well over 120 commercial flights were suddenly cancelled throughout the US and Canada, causing chaos for travelers as major airlines like Delta, Air Canada, Southwest, Alaska Airlines and United experienced mounting operational stress due to complaints of plane routing woes, staffing shortages and summer time system congestion. The fast-traveling cancellations to both regional and long-haul routes trapped thousands of travelers or forced them onto longer, alternative routes, throwing a wrench into travel around North America at one of the busiest times of the year. It was a striptease of stranded planes dressed in steps from major airports in Chicago, Los Angeles and Toronto to regional airstrips throughout both countries, the domino-like shutdown of scheduled flights exposed that the air travel network remained as fragile as ever, under strain from soaring demand and little room for airlines to maneuver.

Across the US and Canada, a total of 117 flights were cancelled and 4,040 were delayed within, into, or out of the region, disrupting schedules for thousands of passengers. United Airlines led with 40 cancellations—representing 1% of its scheduled operations—and 442 delays, accounting for 14% of its flights. Delta Air Lines followed with 17 cancellations and 386 delays, while Southwest Airlines cancelled 13 flights and reported 600 delays, both reflecting about 10–14% disruption rates. PSA Airlines recorded 12 cancellations, or 1% of its network, with 153 delays affecting 21% of its flights—the highest delay rate among the listed carriers. Air Canada and its subsidiaries, including Rouge and Porter, accounted for a combined 9 cancellations and 145 delays. Alaska Airlines cancelled 6 flights and delayed 98, while American Airlines and SkyWest each logged 3 cancellations with 645 and 275 delays respectively. Although some carriers like JetBlue, Frontier, and WestJet Encore reported only one cancellation each, their percentage of delayed operations still exceeded 14%, revealing the widespread and systemic nature of the day’s aviation gridlock.

Over 120 Flights Cancelled in a Single Day Across North America

North American travelers were hit with a wave of cancellations yesterday as more than 120 flights were abruptly grounded across the United States and Canada. The widespread airline cancellations disrupted tightly packed summer itineraries, affecting everything from short-haul commuter routes to long-haul transatlantic journeys. Travelers on both sides of the border found themselves stuck in terminals or forced to abandon trips altogether.

United Airlines Grounds Flights From Coast to Coast

United Airlines cancelled 40 flights, the highest of any carrier in the region. From Los Angeles to Newark, and from Kahului to Chicago, passengers were left stranded with little warning. Several high-impact routes were affected, including United’s international service from Washington Dulles to London and its intercontinental flights from Hawaii to the mainland.

The airline’s extensive cancellations not only halted domestic connections but also severely impacted international travelers trying to reach Europe and major U.S. gateways. With a fleet that includes widebody Boeing 777s and Dreamliners, United’s grounded long-haul aircraft created ripple effects across its entire network.

Delta Cancels Summer Flights Amid Network Constraints

Delta Air Lines followed with 17 flight cancellations, targeting key city pairs in the southeast, Midwest, and West Coast. Flights from Seattle, Detroit, Orlando, and Los Angeles were among those cancelled. Although the number appeared lower than United’s, the impact was widely felt due to the airline’s heavy reliance on hub-and-spoke routing.

The affected flights included both domestic short-hauls and strategic trans-regional routes essential to business and leisure travelers navigating the summer peak.

Southwest and Alaska Cancel Flights Across Western US

Southwest Airlines cancelled 13 scheduled flights, hitting travelers in the western U.S. the hardest. Disruptions at San Diego, San Jose, Phoenix, and Burbank created challenges for travelers flying between major California and Arizona cities. These routes typically serve high volumes of weekend travelers and commuters, intensifying the consequences of even a single flight being pulled from service.

Alaska Airlines added to the operational halt with six flight cancellations. The Seattle-based carrier cancelled routes between Portland, Los Angeles, and Dallas, creating significant gaps in its West Coast-to-interior US connectivity.

Air Canada and Canadian Carriers Halt Domestic Routes

Air Canada was forced to cancel four flights across major Canadian airports, including routes between Calgary, Montreal, and Vancouver. Additional cancellations came from Air Canada Rouge and Porter Airlines. These disruptions disrupted not only domestic connections but also cross-border traffic into the United States, leaving North American travelers with fewer alternatives and longer wait times.

In total, Canadian carriers accounted for nine cancellations, a notable share of the North American total.

Regional Airlines Amplify the Grounding Crisis

PSA Airlines, a regional affiliate operating under the American Eagle brand, cancelled 12 flights concentrated around its Charlotte hub. Affected destinations included mid-size airports across the South and Midwest, worsening connectivity to smaller cities. SkyWest Airlines cancelled three additional flights, with other regional operators like JetBlue, WestJet Encore, and Frontier adding isolated cancellations that contributed to the broader collapse in flight availability.

Airline Cancellations Cripple Trip Plans and Passenger Mobility

Unlike delays, cancellations often leave travelers with no same-day alternatives. Many affected passengers were rebooked for next-day flights or advised to seek refunds and make their own arrangements. With the majority of cancellations concentrated in the peak afternoon and evening travel windows, families, business travelers, and international flyers were disproportionately impacted.

Social media reports flooded in from airports in Chicago, Newark, Vancouver, and Los Angeles, where passengers described chaotic rebooking lines, hotel shortages, and ruined itineraries. Some travelers missed milestone events, including weddings and cruises, while others were forced to postpone work trips and vacations entirely.

Operational Fragility Exposed During Peak Travel Period

While airlines have not yet released full explanations for the coordinated cancellations, aviation analysts suggest a combination of staffing constraints, aircraft rotations, and unplanned maintenance may have been contributing factors. During high-travel months, even a modest spike in system stress can force multiple carriers to cancel scheduled departures to stabilize schedules.

Yesterday’s sharp spike in cancellations underscores the continued vulnerability of North America’s air travel infrastructure. The inability to absorb demand surges or handle mild disruptions without grounding flights continues to put the burden on passengers—especially during the peak of summer travel.

Over 120 flights were cancelled across the US and Canada as major airlines like Delta, Air Canada, Southwest, Alaska, and United grounded aircraft due to staffing shortages, aircraft rotations, and peak summer congestion, leaving thousands of trips disrupted across North America.

North American Passengers Left in Limbo

With more than 120 flights cancelled in a single day, travelers across the US and Canada were reminded that even in a post-pandemic recovery era, flight reliability remains elusive. United, Delta, Air Canada, Southwest, and Alaska—all major players—were responsible for the vast majority of cancellations. Combined with regional carriers halting additional services, the impact extended from major international hubs to smaller regional airports.

Thousands of trips were wrecked in less than 24 hours, reinforcing the growing public concern over air travel stability across North America.