Travelers at Miami and Newark Are Facing a Cascade of Flight Delays Today

Nearly 900 flights across the United States were delayed in a single day, and 70 more were canceled outright — leaving thousands of passengers stranded at gates, scrambling for rebooking options, and watching their travel plans unravel in real time.

The disruptions hit airports across Texas, Florida, California, and New York, with major carriers including Spirit and United Airlines among the hardest affected. A combination of weather-related issues and operational challenges created a cascading effect across the national air travel network, making March 28, 2026 one of the more chaotic travel days of the year so far.

If you’re flying today — or have someone arriving — here’s what the situation actually looks like on the ground, and what you can do about it.

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What’s Actually Causing the Flight Cancellations and Delays

The disruptions aren’t the result of a single cause — that’s what makes them so difficult to resolve quickly. Weather events in multiple regions have created pressure on airline scheduling systems that were already stretched thin, and when weather hits several major hub cities simultaneously, the ripple effect spreads fast.

Operational challenges have compounded the problem. Airlines managing tight crew rotations, limited spare aircraft, and high passenger loads have little buffer when things go wrong. A delay at one end of a route can mean a cancellation at the other, and passengers in cities far from the original disruption end up stranded through no fault of anyone’s planning.

Spirit Airlines and United Airlines have been specifically identified as among the carriers hit hardest by today’s disruptions. Both operate extensive networks across the affected states, meaning their scheduling problems have a broader geographic footprint than smaller regional carriers.

Airports and Airlines Facing the Worst of It Today

The disruptions are concentrated in some of the country’s busiest travel corridors. Here’s a breakdown of what’s confirmed across the affected regions and airports:

• Texas airports — among the affected hubs, with delays and cancellations hitting travelers heading to and from major Texas cities
• Florida airports — including Miami International, one of the busiest international gateways in the Southeast, facing significant disruption
• California airports — impacted as part of the nationwide operational strain
• New York airports — including Newark Liberty International, a critical hub for both domestic and transatlantic routes
• Boston Logan International — also identified as among the airports experiencing disruptions
• Toronto Pearson — cross-border travel affected as well, with disruptions extending into Canada

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How This Affects You Right Now

If you have a flight today on Spirit or United — or through any of the named airports — the most important thing you can do is check your flight status directly with your airline before heading to the airport. Showing up to discover a cancellation you weren’t notified about wastes hours you could spend rebooking.

Passengers whose flights are canceled are generally entitled to a full refund or rebooking on the next available flight, depending on the circumstances of the cancellation. Weather-related cancellations often reduce what airlines are required to offer beyond that baseline, so understanding your specific situation matters.

Delays of 899 flights across a single day mean airport terminals are congested, gate agents are overwhelmed, and wait times for customer service — both in person and by phone — will be significantly longer than normal. Travelers are strongly advised to use airline apps and self-service kiosks wherever possible rather than joining physical queues.

Those with connecting flights face the greatest risk. A delay on the first leg doesn’t guarantee you’ll make a connection, and airlines may rebook you automatically — sometimes on a flight that doesn’t work with your actual plans. Proactively calling the airline to control your rebooking options is almost always faster than waiting to be reassigned.

What Travelers Should Watch for in the Hours Ahead

Disruptions of this scale rarely resolve themselves within a few hours. When weather is a contributing factor across multiple regions simultaneously, airlines need time to reposition aircraft and crews before schedules can normalize. Passengers booked on evening flights today should still expect the possibility of further delays even if their specific flight hasn’t been affected yet.

The situation at cross-border airports like Toronto Pearson adds another layer of complexity. International travelers face additional rebooking constraints compared to domestic passengers, and alternative routing options may be more limited.

Airlines typically issue travel waivers during widespread disruption events, which allow passengers to change their flights without fees. Check your airline’s website for any active waiver that applies to your route — these can be a significant financial benefit if you’re flexible enough to shift your travel by a day or two.

The pattern of disruptions across Texas, Florida, California, and New York suggests this is a system-wide event rather than a localized one. That means recovery will be gradual, and passengers should plan for the possibility that today’s chaos carries over into tomorrow morning’s departures as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which airlines are most affected by today’s disruptions?
Spirit Airlines and United Airlines have been identified as among the carriers hit hardest by the cancellations and delays on March 28, 2026.

Which airports are experiencing the most disruption?
Miami International, Newark Liberty International, Boston Logan International, and Toronto Pearson are among the airports specifically identified as affected, along with airports in Texas and California.

How many flights have been canceled and delayed today?
A total of 70 flights were canceled and 899 were delayed across U.S. airports as of today’s reporting.

What is causing the cancellations and delays?
The disruptions stem from a combination of weather-related issues and operational challenges affecting airlines across multiple regions simultaneously.

Am I entitled to a refund if my flight is canceled?
Passengers with canceled flights are generally entitled to a refund or rebooking, though weather-related cancellations may affect the full scope of what airlines are required to provide.

Will the disruptions continue into tomorrow?
Given the scale of today’s disruptions across four states and multiple major hubs, some cascading delays into early tomorrow morning are possible, particularly for flights that depend on aircraft or crews repositioned today.