Storm Hernando Travel Chaos: Hundreds of Transatlantic Flights Cancelled at Major UK & US Airports

For many travelers, Monday morning, February 23, 2026, was supposed to be the start of a productive work week or a long-awaited holiday. Instead, it became a masterclass in patience as Storm Hernando unleashed a wave of cancellations that spanned from the Eastern Seaboard of the United States to the busiest runways in the United Kingdom.

What began as a “major winter storm” warning from the US National Weather Service has rapidly mutated into a logistical nightmare for airlines and passengers alike. As the storm battered the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast US with heavy snow, fierce winds, and coastal flooding, the effects were felt thousands of miles away at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Dublin.

The UK Hubs: Heathrow and Gatwick in Crisis

London Heathrow, often described as the “world’s junction,” bore the brunt of the UK disruptions. On Monday alone, a staggering 32 flights scheduled to depart from Heathrow to New York’s JFK were scrapped. The cancellations weren’t just one-way; incoming flights from the US were also grounded, leaving aircraft and crews out of position.+1

At London Gatwick, the scene was similar. Departure boards glowed with the dreaded red “Cancelled” text, as airlines like British Airways and Virgin Atlantic struggled to manage the backlog. The issue isn’t just the weather at the destination; it’s the “flow control”—the safety-mandated spacing between aircraft—that prevents airports from operating at full capacity when visibility and wind speeds hit dangerous levels.

Northern Disruptions: Manchester, Edinburgh, and Dublin

The chaos wasn’t confined to London. Manchester Airport saw several direct transatlantic services cancelled, while Edinburgh Airport reported that 35 outgoing flights had the second leg of their journeys (often US-bound connections) called off.+1

Across the Irish Sea, Dublin Airport issued an official advisory via social media, confirming that 13 flights had been axed due to the “perilous” conditions on the US East coast. For Irish travelers, the disruption hit hardest on routes to Boston, Newark, and JFK, leaving many stranded in the terminal as they scrambled to find accommodation or alternative routes.+1

The Human Element: Passengers in Limbo

Behind the statistics of “4,000 global cancellations” are the human stories. In Heathrow’s Terminal 2, families were seen huddling near power outlets, their holidays to Disney World or New York City put on indefinite hold. Business travelers, usually armed with gold-status perks, found themselves in the same long queues as everyone else, as airline call centers reached wait times of over three hours.

“It’s the uncertainty that’s the hardest,” said one passenger stranded at Manchester. “You don’t know if you should go home, find a hotel, or wait it out for a flight that might not leave for another two days.”

Airlines have responded by waiving rebooking fees, but with so many flights grounded, finding an available seat on a future flight is becoming a “Hunger Games” style scramble.

Why “Storm Hernando” is Different

Meteorologists have pointed to the sheer scale of Hernando as the reason for such widespread disruption. With blizzard warnings covering a corridor from Washington D.C. to Maine and snow totals reaching up to 28 inches in some areas, the US East Coast infrastructure—including major hubs like JFK and Logan International—essentially went into “hibernation” to ensure safety.

When the US “shuts its doors,” the UK’s transatlantic schedule collapses. The “impossible travel conditions” cited by the National Weather Service aren’t just an exaggeration; they are a reality for ground crews who cannot safely de-ice planes or load baggage in the face of 60mph gusts and whiteout conditions.

Expert Advice for Stranded Travelers

If you are currently caught in the Storm Hernando chaos, travel experts suggest the following:

1. Use the App, Not the Desk: Airline apps are often updated faster than airport screens. You can often rebook yourself through the app without waiting in a physical queue.
2. Know Your Rights: Under UK261 regulations, airlines are often required to provide food vouchers and overnight accommodation if your flight is delayed or cancelled, even if the cause is weather-related (though compensation for “extraordinary circumstances” like a storm is usually not required).
3. Check the “Inbound” Flight: Use flight tracking apps to see where the plane before yours is coming from. If that plane never left the US, your flight won’t be leaving the UK.

Looking Ahead

While forecasts suggest the worst of Storm Hernando will subside by Tuesday evening, the “knock-on” effects will likely last through the end of the week. Aircraft are currently in the wrong cities, and crew hours have been exhausted.

For now, the best advice for any traveler with a transatlantic ticket is to stay home, keep your phone charged, and wait for the “all clear” from the skies.

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