Published on
February 23, 2026
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Severe weather conditions stretching across parts of the United States and impacting long-haul corridors from the Middle East and Europe triggered a wave of international flight cancellations, disrupting at least 31 major long-haul services operated by Etihad Airways, Saudia, Qatar Airways, and Emirates. According to operational flight tracking data and airport advisories, the cancellations were largely attributed to adverse weather conditions affecting key North American gateways, particularly New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), and Boston (BOS), where winter systems and strong wind advisories disrupted transcontinental operations.
The cancellations created ripple effects across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Greece, Italy, Hong Kong, and multiple US cities, severely impacting passengers, tourism flows, airport operations, and airline schedules.
The Full Scope of the Disruption: 31 International Flights Cancelled
Etihad Airways – 3 Flights Cancelled
| Ident | Type | Origin | Destination | Scheduled Departure Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETD1 | A35K | Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA) | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Mon 03:05AM +04 |
| ETD3 | B77W | Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA) | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Mon 09:50AM +04 |
| ETD1 | A35K | Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA) | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Tue 03:05AM +04 |
Saudia – 7 Flights Cancelled
| Ident | Type | Origin | Destination | Scheduled Departure Time |
|---|
| SVA21 | B773 | King Abdulaziz Int’l (JED / OEJN) | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Mon 03:40AM +03 |
| SVA566 | A321 | King Abdulaziz Int’l (JED / OEJN) | Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB) | Mon 06:10AM +03 |
| SVA567 | A321 | Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB) | King Abdulaziz Int’l (JED / OEJN) | Mon 11:20AM +04 |
| SVA20 | B773 | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | King Abdulaziz Int’l (JED / OEJN) | Mon 11:10AM EST |
| SVA700 | B773 | King Abdulaziz Int’l (JED / OEJN) | Jinnah Int’l (KHI / OPKC) | Tue 02:55AM +03 |
| SVA23 | B773 | King Khalid Int’l (RUH / OERK) | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Tue 03:00AM +03 |
| SVA22 | B773 | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | King Khalid Int’l (RUH / OERK) | Tue 11:10AM EST |
Qatar Airways – 8 Flights Cancelled
| Ident | Type | Origin | Destination | Scheduled Departure Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QTR703 | B77W | Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH) | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Mon 01:35AM +03 |
| QTR702 | B77W | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH) | Sun 09:10PM EST |
| QTR743 | A35K | Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH) | Boston Logan Intl (KBOS) | Mon 08:10AM +03 |
| QTR701 | B77W | Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH) | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Mon 08:30AM +03 |
| QTR706 | A359 | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH) | Mon 01:30AM EST |
| QTR704 | B77W | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH) | Mon 10:30AM EST |
| QTR744 | A35K | Boston Logan Intl (KBOS) | Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH) | Mon 08:50PM EST |
| QTR702 | B77W | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH) | Mon 09:10PM EST |
Emirates – 13 Flights Cancelled
| Ident | Type | Origin | Destination | Scheduled Departure Time |
|---|
| UAE209 | B77W | Athens Int’l, Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH / LGAV) | Newark Liberty Intl (KEWR) | Sun 05:20PM EET |
| UAE203 | A388 | Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB) | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Mon 02:45AM +04 |
| UAE201 | A388 | Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB) | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Mon 08:40AM +04 |
| UAE237 | B77W | Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB) | Boston Logan Intl (KBOS) | Mon 08:50AM +04 |
| UAE210 | B77W | Newark Liberty Intl (KEWR) | Athens Int’l, Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH / LGAV) | Sun 11:55PM EST |
| UAE205 | A388 | Malpensa Int’l (MXP / LIMC) | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Mon 03:50PM CET |
| UAE209 | B77W | Athens Int’l, Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH / LGAV) | Newark Liberty Intl (KEWR) | Mon 05:20PM EET |
| UAE204 | A388 | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB) | Mon 10:50AM EST |
| UAE9782 | B772 | Al Maktoum Int’l (DWC / OMDW) | Hong Kong Int’l (HKG / VHHH) | Tue 01:20AM +04 |
| UAE203 | A388 | Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB) | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Tue 02:45AM +04 |
| UAE238 | B77W | Boston Logan Intl (KBOS) | Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB) | Mon 10:20PM EST |
| UAE202 | A388 | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB) | Mon 11:10PM EST |
| UAE204 | A388 | John F Kennedy Intl (KJFK) | Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB) | Tue 10:50AM EST |
Airports Brought to a Standstill
Etihad Airways – Affected Airports
- Abu Dhabi International Airport (United Arab Emirates)
- John F Kennedy International Airport, New York (United States)
Saudia – Affected Airports
- King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia)
- King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)
- John F Kennedy International Airport, New York (United States)
- Dubai International Airport (United Arab Emirates)
- Jinnah International Airport, Karachi (Pakistan)
Qatar Airways – Affected Airports
- Hamad International Airport, Doha (Qatar)
- John F Kennedy International Airport, New York (United States)
- Boston Logan International Airport (United States)
Emirates – Affected Airports
- Dubai International Airport (United Arab Emirates)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (United States)
- John F Kennedy International Airport (United States)
- Boston Logan International Airport (United States)
- Athens International Airport (Greece)
- Milan Malpensa International Airport (Italy)
- Al Maktoum International Airport (United Arab Emirates)
- Hong Kong International Airport (Hong Kong SAR)
High-Impact Routes Disrupted
Etihad Airways
All cancellations affected the Abu Dhabi–New York JFK long-haul corridor, a premium business and tourism route connecting the UAE to the United States. This route is critical for diplomatic, tourism, and financial travel.
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Saudia
Key disruptions included:
- Jeddah–New York
- Riyadh–New York
- Jeddah–Karachi
- Jeddah–Dubai (regional corridor)
These routes are vital for religious tourism, expatriate workers, and business travelers.
Qatar Airways
Major corridors impacted:
- Doha–New York
- Doha–Boston
These are among Qatar’s most important transatlantic routes, connecting Gulf business hubs with US academic and financial centers.
Emirates
Severe impact on:
- Dubai–New York
- Dubai–Boston
- Athens–Newark
- Milan–New York
- Dubai–Hong Kong
These routes are some of Emirates’ flagship long-haul services.
Global Gridlock: When One Storm Freezes Three Continents
What unfolded was not just a string of cancellations — it was a chain reaction that rippled across continents. When long-haul flights between the Gulf and major US gateways were grounded, passengers in Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, New York, Boston, Newark, Athens, and Milan suddenly found themselves caught in a logistical storm.
Missed connections turned into overnight airport stays. Carefully timed itineraries collapsed within hours. Transit passengers moving between Asia and North America faced complex rebooking loops, often competing for limited seat availability on already full long-haul aircraft. Aircraft rotations — the backbone of international scheduling — were interrupted, creating a domino effect across multiple time zones.
For certain groups, the disruption hit even harder:
- Medical travelers en route for surgeries or treatment schedules faced critical timing pressures.
- International students risked missing academic deadlines.
- Corporate delegations and government officials encountered high-stakes scheduling fallout.
- Transit passengers between Asia and North America saw multi-leg journeys unravel simultaneously.
What Passengers Should Do Immediately
In high-impact disruptions like these, strategic action matters:
- Monitor official airline apps and SMS alerts constantly — these update faster than airport boards.
- Request written confirmation of cancellation — crucial for insurance claims.
- Know passenger rights by departure region:
- EU departures may fall under EU261 compensation rules.
- US departures follow Department of Transportation consumer protection guidelines.
- Gulf carriers typically provide rebooking or accommodation under their conditions of carriage.
- Ask for protected rerouting through alliance or codeshare partners.
- Keep receipts for meals, hotels, and ground transport — reimbursement policies often require documentation.
- Check visa validity if stranded in a transit country longer than expected.
Preparedness can dramatically reduce stress during international aviation disruptions.
Tourism Tremors: How Strategic Travel Corridors Took the Hit
The cancellations did more than inconvenience travelers — they disrupted carefully calibrated tourism flows across several key markets.
UAE tourism arrivals from the United States slowed temporarily as inbound visitors missed connections into Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Saudi outbound travel saw ripple effects across religious, business, and diaspora corridors.
Qatar’s transatlantic network, particularly Doha–New York and Doha–Boston, experienced scheduling strain.
US inbound Middle Eastern tourism temporarily dipped as connecting flights failed to operate.
Greece and Italy transatlantic corridors were affected via Athens and Milan.
Hotels in New York, Boston, Dubai, and Doha reported last-minute booking changes, extended stays, and rescheduled check-ins. For destinations dependent on premium long-haul travelers — particularly business and high-spending leisure visitors — even a short wave of cancellations can influence weekly occupancy rates.
Travel Advice for Tourists in Affected Cities
- Contact hotels proactively if arrival is delayed.
- Confirm airport transfer rescheduling.
- Reconfirm onward domestic flights separately.
- Consider flexible booking options during severe weather seasons.
- Purchase travel insurance that covers weather-related disruption.
Tourism industries are increasingly urging travelers to build buffer days into high-value international trips, especially during peak winter storm periods in North America.
Turning Turbulence into Transformation: Aviation’s Strategic Reset
Major international carriers are not passive observers of weather volatility. These cancellations are accelerating deeper investments in resilience technology and operational strategy.
Airlines are enhancing:
- Real-time weather modeling systems linked directly to flight dispatch centers.
- Predictive operational analytics to pre-empt cascading aircraft rotation failures.
- Dynamic rerouting networks through alliance and interline agreements.
- Automated passenger reaccommodation tools powered by AI-driven scheduling engines.
Airports across North America and Europe are simultaneously strengthening:
- De-icing infrastructure capacity.
- Snow and wind operational protocols.
- Air traffic coordination systems.
- Passenger communication channels during irregular operations.
The industry is no longer simply reacting to weather — it is engineering systems designed to absorb shocks more efficiently.
Aviation’s Unbreakable Spine: How the Industry Moves Forward
Severe weather may temporarily ground aircraft, but it does not ground global connectivity. Gulf carriers remain among the most interconnected long-haul operators in the world, linking Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America through strategic hubs.
Every disruption delivers data. Every delay generates operational insight. Every cancelled flight refines contingency planning.
Passengers are becoming more informed. Airlines are becoming more technologically agile. Airports are strengthening infrastructure against climate volatility.
International aviation has weathered volcanic ash clouds, global health crises, fuel shocks, and economic downturns — and emerged stronger each time. This moment is no different.
The skies may pause under pressure — but global aviation is built on resilience, innovation, and relentless recovery.
