Winter storms canceled 2,000 flights at Midwest airports across the country on Sunday

At least 2,000 flights were canceled Sunday as winter storms continued to batter the Upper Midwest, turning at least one normally busy airport into a ghost town.

According to the latest data from FlightAware, US flight cancellations on Sunday accounted for about 78% of all canceled flights worldwide, with at least 2,216 flights grounded out of about 2,842 global cancellations.

Meanwhile, a further 6,826 delays were reported to have hit the national airline network, pushing travel plans around the world.

Many airlines have since issued guidelines allowing passengers to change their flights without incurring significant costs, providing flexibility for travelers affected by winter storms.

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The epicenter of the disruption is in the Midwest, with the greatest impact centered on Chicago, followed by Minneapolis. The collapse caused visible effects at other major US airports, including Atlanta and Denver.

The airport seeing the biggest impact in terms of volume is Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, which reportedly affected 790 flights, according to FlyChicago.

At least 27% of its departing flights have been cancelled, and another 29% of incoming flights have also been cancelled, according to FlightAware.

Another 839 flights, inbound and outbound, were delayed, with wait times of 82 minutes, according to FlyChicago.

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A heavy snowstorm hit the airport’s exterior, grounding flights and disrupting MSP operations. (MSP Airport/Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul / Fox News)

The major airport with the highest percentage of affected flights is Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP), where 73% of departures and 64% of arrivals are reported to be canceled, FlightAware reports.

MSP Airport reported 726 canceled flights and 177 on-time departures, while Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul noticed on Sunday that the terminals were almost like a ghost town, with few workers on site.

The airport released a statement on social media on Sunday morning, highlighting the severity of the winter storms that disrupted operations at the airport.

“Fake spring ended as snow arrived at MSP on Saturday evening,” the statement said. “Airlines have canceled over 450 flights to and from MSP on Sunday. Please check your airline for the latest flight information. Stay safe!”

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), another major hub connecting Chicago and Minneapolis, also reportedly experienced major disruptions, with at least 227 flights delayed and another 87 canceled.

Similarly, Denver International (DEN) saw 466 delays and 60 total cancellations.

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Snow covers the asphalt in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, highlighting the storm’s impact on flights. (MSP Airport/Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul / Fox News)

Most major carriers have issued travel cancellations, allowing passengers to rebook flights as the storm continues to intensify. Officials suggest checking airline websites regularly for any updates.

United Airlines issued notices allowing passengers with affected flights from the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region to reschedule their trips with minor cost changes.

“You can reschedule your trip and we will waive the change fee and fare difference,” the site said. “However, your new flight must be a United flight departing between March 12, 2026 and March 20, 2026. Tickets must be in the same cabin and between the same cities as originally booked.”

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While Delta Air Lines previously set a March 22 deadline for ticket refunds, passengers can now extend this deadline to March 24, 2026.

American Airlines also announced that passengers can change their trip without a change fee, as long as the new reservation is made by March 26, 2026.