U.S. weather, Mexico security concerns and halt of Global Entry take a toll on air travel

Severe winter weather across the northeastern United States, a partial government shutdown and security concerns in parts of western Mexico converged to make Monday a challenging time for air travel. Thousands of U.S. flights were canceled or delayed on the East Coast as a powerful snowstorm upended daily routines in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and other major cities. Airlines also suspended or adjusted service to destinations in and around Mexico's Jalisco state as violence erupted in the aftermath of a senior cartel leader's killing. Travelers with Global Entry memberships faced potentially longer wait times upon arriving in the U.S. as well, after the Department of Homeland Security, which shut down on Feb. 14 because Congress did not reach an agreement on its continued funding, temporarily halted the program that gives pre-approved individuals an expedited way to clear immigration and customs. The overlapping disruptions created cascading delays across interconnected airline networks, stranding some travelers and complicating airport operations, especially on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. The winter storm that pounded the Northeast brought heavy snow, strong winds and blizzard warnings that slowed or halted transportation networks across the region. More than 5,600 flights into, out of or within the U.S. were canceled, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware, with over 3,000 others delayed. New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport reported the highest numbers of cancellations, followed by airports in Boston, Newark, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Smaller airports, including Rhode Island's T.F. Green International Airport, temporarily suspended operations. The wide-ranging impact of the storm meant that even after it passed, airlines would need time to reposition planes and flight crews to restore full schedules, with experts predicting cancellations would 'gradually decrease daily' in the coming days. Beyond weather, security concerns in Mexico significantly impacted travel after the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, Mexico's most powerful cartel leader, in Jalisco state. Local and foreign governments issued travel advisories, with the U.S. State Department advising American citizens in parts of Jalisco and other states to shelter in place and avoid non-essential travel. Major carriers including AeroMexico, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada canceled or scaled back flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, offering customers flexible rebooking options. Meanwhile, the partial U.S. government shutdown continued to affect airport operations, with the Department of Homeland Security extending the suspension of its Global Entry program that allows pre-approved travelers expedited entry into the country, potentially leading to longer wait times at international airports.