Winter Storm Fern causes nearly 120 flight cancellations at Phoenix Sky Harbor

The winter storm has disrupted air travel across the U.S., with American Airlines hit the hardest at the Arizona airport.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 11:39pm

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Winter Storm Fern has caused 119 flight cancellations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Tuesday, with nearly all of the cancellations being serviced by American Airlines. The winter storm has wreaked havoc on air travel across the U.S., impacting more than 220 million Americans and leading to widespread power outages and tree damage.

Why it matters

The high number of flight cancellations at Sky Harbor, one of the busiest airports in the country, highlights the significant disruption that Winter Storm Fern has caused to air travel. This is especially problematic for American Airlines, which has a major hub at the airport and has seen the majority of the cancellations.

The details

On Tuesday, a total of 119 flights were canceled at Sky Harbor, with 116 of those being American Airlines flights. This comes after more than 220 flights were canceled or delayed between Saturday and Sunday morning. American Airlines has extended its travel alerts, allowing passengers to change their trips without fees, through Thursday.

  • On Tuesday, 119 flights were canceled at Sky Harbor.
  • Between Saturday and Sunday morning, more than 220 flights were canceled or delayed.

The players

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

One of the busiest airports in the United States, located in Phoenix, Arizona.

American Airlines

A major U.S. airline that has a significant hub at Sky Harbor and was responsible for the majority of the flight cancellations.

NOAA's Weather Prediction Center

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's organization that provides weather forecasts and predictions.

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What’s next

The winter storm is expected to continue causing disruptions to air travel in the coming days, and airlines may need to extend their travel alerts and waivers further.

The takeaway

The significant impact of Winter Storm Fern on air travel, particularly at a major hub like Sky Harbor, underscores the need for airports and airlines to be prepared for severe weather events and have contingency plans in place to minimize disruptions to passengers.