Flights delayed as Canadian wildfire smoke engulfs NYC, Philadephia

New York: Flights in the New York City area and Philadelphia have faced disruptions and delays due to thick smoke caused by wildfires raging in Canada.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken measures to manage the situation, including implementing traffic slowdowns and ground stops at certain airports.

However, the ground stop for flights bound for New York's LaGuardia International Airport was lifted in the afternoon, providing some relief for travelers.

Philadelphia International Airport also experienced reduced visibility, prompting the FAA to slow down flights from the East Coast and Midwest heading to the airport.

Average delays of 29 minutes were reported for affected flights.

Major airlines, including United and Delta, have been making adjustments to their schedules to accommodate the disruptions caused by the smoke.

United, the largest carrier at Newark Airport, stated that it would adapt its schedule as necessary.

Delta, the largest carrier at LaGuardia, expressed optimism that there would be no cancellations at the moment despite the visibility issues.

Newark Airport has been particularly affected, with delays averaging 82 minutes, while LaGuardia has faced ground delays of approximately two hours and departure delays of around 30 minutes.