New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia on Saturday warned travelers to expect continued flight delays and cancellations at regional airports throughout the weekend.
The ongoing disruptions follow a nationwide Federal Aviation Administration ground stop on Friday night, the officials said in a joint statement.
By the end of Friday evening, officials said John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and New York Stewart International Airport had reported more than 800 cancellations and more than 600 delays as airlines attempted to recover from the ground stop.
Soon after the ground stop started, the Port Authority opened its Emergency Operations Center. The agency worked closely with airlines, terminal operators and federal aviation officials to manage the disruptions and assist passengers, according to the statement.
Additional airport personnel and Port Authority Police officers deployed to help manage crowding in the terminals. The Port Authority also supplied airlines with cots, blankets, pillows, baby formula and other essential supplies, while airport concessions remained open for affected travelers, the officials said.
Hochul and Garcia thanked frontline workers and air traffic controllers for their efforts to keep travelers safe during the disruptions.
“The Port Authority remains in close coordination with its partners and stands ready to deploy additional personnel and resources as needed in the coming days,” the statement said.