Air India on 23 February cancelled its Boeing 777 services to and from New York-JFK and Newark-Liberty scheduled for 24 February after a blizzard warning prompted both airports to curtail runway operations. AI101/102 (Delhi–JFK) and AI191/192 (Mumbai–EWR) are among the affected rotations. Passengers have been offered full refunds, free rebooking within seven days or the option to route via Chicago or Washington, subject to availability.
The disruption highlights winter-weather vulnerability on India–US sectors that rely on narrow flight-schedule buffers. According to flight-tracking data, JFK handled 6 percent more India-origin traffic in 2025 versus 2019, leaving airlines with less slack to swap aircraft in irregular-operations scenarios. Corporate mobility managers with assignees on rotation between Bengaluru and East Coast tech hubs should monitor onward connections, especially as United Airlines also pre-emptively scrubbed multiple domestic feeders.
Travellers transiting JFK for Canada-bound connections may need new eTAs or US B1/B2 visas if routings change. Air India advised that checked baggage tags will be automatically updated for re-protected itineraries but warned of potential 24-hour delivery delays given constrained ramp staffing during snow removal.
![Heavy Snowstorm Forces Air India to Cancel New York and Newark Flights]()
Should last-minute paperwork become an issue, VisaHQ can help simplify the process. Through its India-focused portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) the service offers rapid eTA applications, guidance on securing or rescheduling US B1/B2 interviews, and real-time transit-rule updates—an easy safety net when weather disruptions force unexpected reroutes.
The carrier said it is working with the Airports Authority of India to waive slot-use requirements for the return sectors so that repositioning flights do not incur penalties. Indian consulates in New York and Chicago have issued helpline numbers for urgent passport issues arising from missed visa-validity windows.
For future winters, Air India is evaluating additional ‘buffer’ days in its duty rosters and a wet-lease agreement for two A330-900neos capable of operating alternate routes via Boston or Philadelphia during snow emergencies.
The disruption highlights winter-weather vulnerability on India–US sectors that rely on narrow flight-schedule buffers. According to flight-tracking data, JFK handled 6 percent more India-origin traffic in 2025 versus 2019, leaving airlines with less slack to swap aircraft in irregular-operations scenarios. Corporate mobility managers with assignees on rotation between Bengaluru and East Coast tech hubs should monitor onward connections, especially as United Airlines also pre-emptively scrubbed multiple domestic feeders.
Travellers transiting JFK for Canada-bound connections may need new eTAs or US B1/B2 visas if routings change. Air India advised that checked baggage tags will be automatically updated for re-protected itineraries but warned of potential 24-hour delivery delays given constrained ramp staffing during snow removal.
Should last-minute paperwork become an issue, VisaHQ can help simplify the process. Through its India-focused portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) the service offers rapid eTA applications, guidance on securing or rescheduling US B1/B2 interviews, and real-time transit-rule updates—an easy safety net when weather disruptions force unexpected reroutes.
The carrier said it is working with the Airports Authority of India to waive slot-use requirements for the return sectors so that repositioning flights do not incur penalties. Indian consulates in New York and Chicago have issued helpline numbers for urgent passport issues arising from missed visa-validity windows.
For future winters, Air India is evaluating additional ‘buffer’ days in its duty rosters and a wet-lease agreement for two A330-900neos capable of operating alternate routes via Boston or Philadelphia during snow emergencies.
