Flight delays climb as Canadian wildfire smog chokes Northeast
Wildfires continue to burn across eastern Canada, with meteorologists warning that smoke levels and air quality will continue to worsen across the eastern U.S. By midday Wednesday, the smoke began to affect commercial flights in the New York region.
AccuWeather predicts it could be next week before the air quality improves, and despite expectations that impacts on commercial flights would be minimal, ground stops at New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Wednesday afternoon kicked off a cascade of flight delays.
Flights to Newark were delayed for an average of an hour and 22 minutes as of 2 p.m. EDT, according to FlightAware, while inbound flights to LaGuardia were delayed nearly two hours, and departures were delayed for 45 minutes.
In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration, which manages air traffic control, said that it had slowed traffic to and from the New York City region due to "reduced visibility from wildfire smoke."
The agency added that it would continue to adjust traffic volume as conditions changed.
Flights to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) were also being slowed by an FAA traffic management plan as of 3 p.m. ET, with delays averaging about 30 minutes.
While the delays due to visibility are inconvenient, the good news is that there isn't a safety risk for passengers.
Travelers can expect "reduced visibility and some particulates from the smoke entering the aircraft through engine pressurization bleed air," Bob Mann, an airline industry consultant and former airline executive, said. Even so, he said this debris passes through internal filtration and recirculation systems, away from passengers.
"Reduced visibility, but not as bad as a foggy, low cloud, poor weather day," Mann said, while noting it will have "no adverse impact on engines, unlike the scouring of volcanic dust, for example."
Underscoring the rapidly changing environment, earlier Wednesday the airports were running more or less as usual, with a few scattered delays and cancellations. Most flights were operating on time, according to FlightAware.
On Tuesday, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air-quality health advisory for all five boroughs of New York City, warning certain people to limit their time outdoors.
"Currently, we are taking precautions out of an abundance of caution to protect New Yorkers' health until we are able to get a better sense of future air quality reports. We recommend all New Yorkers limit outdoor activity to the greatest extent possible," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. "Those with preexisting respiratory problems, like heart or breathing problems, as well as children and older adults may be especially sensitive and should stay indoors at this time."
As of Wednesday afternoon, New York City had the worst air quality and pollution in the U.S., per IQAir data. Across both the Northeast and Midwest, people reported "eye-watering smoke from the fires," per The New York Times.
Still, flights are operating out of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and the three New York City-area airports, though the afternoon delays have begun to affect the latter airports.
"It was eerie descending into the haze and smoke as the world outside turned a burnt orange instead of a dark gray as it usually does in clouds," a pilot at a major U.S. airline, who asked TPG not to publish their name in the story, said of a flight out of EWR on Tuesday. "No issues with navigation or engines, and our plane did a great job of filtering the air, but there was a lot of turbulence, and we ran into a wind shear not associated with a thunderstorm, which was unusual."
TPG will update the story as it continues to develop.
Additional reporting by David Slotnick.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees