In a dramatic weather-driven disruption, Kenya Airways (KQ) has cancelled its flagship long-haul flights between Nairobi and New York, citing the severe winter storms pummelling the United States that have paralyzed airports and grounded thousands of flights.
The national carrier confirmed that Flight KQ 002, originally scheduled to depart Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) for New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Saturday, January 24, 2026, will not take off, and the return service, Flight KQ 003 from New York to Nairobi scheduled for Sunday, January 25, 2026, has also been shelved as the brutal weather system continues to wreak havoc.
“The safety of our guests and crew remains our highest priority, and these cancellations have been made in the interest of safe operations,” Kenya Airways said in a statement, emphasizing that its teams are actively monitoring conditions to provide further updates.
The cancellations are part of broader travel turmoil as snowstorms and blizzard conditions over the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and beyond have delayed or cancelled thousands of flights, disrupted ground operations, and forced airlines worldwide to adjust schedules.
Heavy snowfall, ice buildup, and dangerously low temperatures—from Texas through North Carolina and up the coast—have battered major hubs, complicating runway operations and reducing visibility for pilots and air traffic controllers alike.
Kenya Airways is warning that the ripple effects of this storm could extend beyond the weekend. The airline flagged that the January 25 flight from Nairobi to New York and the January 26 New York–Nairobi service could be affected, depending on how the storm evolves.
Passengers booked on the affected flights are being urged to:
Monitor real-time flight status via the Kenya Airways website or app
Stay in contact with KQ Customer Excellence teams for the latest guidance
Prepare for possible rebooking options or travel waivers as needed
With the airline’s safety-first policy at the forefront, KQ’s decisive action mirrors that of many global carriers caught in the crosswinds of extreme winter weather—underscoring the increasingly tangible impact of severe weather systems on international air travel.
