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

NEW YORK (AP) — 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.

Air traffic slowed dramatically. More than 5,600 flights into, out of or within the U.S. were canceled, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. Over 3,000 others were delayed.

New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport reported the highest numbers of cancellations Monday — followed by airports in Boston, Newark, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Smaller airports, including Rhode Island’s T.F. Green International Airport, temporarily suspended operations.

Even after a storm passes, it takes time for airlines to get their planes and flight crews back where they need to be to restore full schedules, according to Michael McCormick, an associate professor of air traffic management at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University.

“This storm is so wide-ranging, it’s impacted major hubs along the Northeast. And those airports are the most vulnerable airports in terms of getting aircraft and air crews positioned to be able to fly their schedule,” McCormick said. As a result, there will continue to be cancellations that “gradually decrease daily," he said.

More than 1,900 U.S. flights already were canceled for Tuesday.

Benjamin Lundell and Thomas Mehari were among the travelers who got stuck in New York on Monday. The network consultants are on a business trip from Sweden and had their flight to Texas canceled.

“We're dressed for Houston currently,” said Lundell, as he trudged through knee-high snow in a thin jacket and jeans in search of a new hotel in Manhattan.

The National Weather Service called travel conditions “extremely treacherous” and “nearly impossible” in areas hit hardest by the storm.

Beyond air traffic, millions of people under blizzard warnings faced state or city-level bans on non-emergency ground transportation. Public transit systems were reduced or suspended in some areas.

New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority said that it had “removed articulated buses from service during the storm” as of midday Monday and that there might be subway delays, especially along routes that run outdoors. The Long Island Rail Road temporarily suspended all services until further notice.

As for longer passenger train routes, Amtrak stopped all service between New York Moynihan Train Hall and Boston South Station through the end of the day Monday. Amtrack said its crews were working to restore service by Tuesday, but it still expected additional cancellations.

While the winter storm accounted for the bulk of Monday's flight cancellations, it was not the only factor. After the killing Sunday of Mexico's most powerful cartel leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, in Jalisco state, local and foreign governments issued travel advisories and safety guidance.

A series of retaliatory attacks since the killing of Oseguera Cervantes have put much of Mexico on edge. Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus suspended public transportation on Sunday and urged residents to stay in their homes. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department advised American citizens in parts of Jalisco and other states to shelter in place and avoid non-essential travel until the situation stabilized. Canadian authorities issued similar guidance.

Carriers including AeroMexico, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada canceled or scaled back flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Many offered customers flexible rebooking options. Some government agencies may implement more sweeping limitations on air travel if safety concerns persist or escalate further, aviation experts said.

Oklahoma resident Steve Perkins, 57, told The Associated Press in a video interview from Puerto Vallarta that he and his wife were stranded after their flight home Monday was canceled. Perkins said they were having coffee on their hotel's terrace Sunday morning when they heard an explosion and later saw plumes of black smoke surround the downtown.

“My wife called our kids to tell them goodbye if we were never gonna see them again, that kind of thing. It was fairly unsettling,” Perkins said.

Perkins, who works as an IT consultant, said his vacation was only supposed to be for a week so he’ll have to resume working from Puerto Vallarta until he can go home.

Adding to airport strain, the Department of Homeland Security said the suspension of its Global Entry program that started over the weekend would remain in place until the partial U.S. government shutdown ends.

Global Entry allows pre-approved travelers to use expedited kiosks when entering the U.S. from abroad. The suspension could mean longer wait times for some returning passengers at international airports.

Homeland Security initially planned to halt the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program as well but ended up not doing so. The department indicated it still might suspend PreCheck, however, saying it would adjust operations on a “case-by-case basis” as staffing constraints arise.

That's because TSA agents are working without pay during the lapse in funding, which could lead to staffing issues and long security lines if the shutdown drags on.

U.S. airlines are required to provide refunds for canceled flights. And when they expect severe disruptions, they also often give travelers a chance to postpone their trips by a few days without having to pay a fee.

Many carriers are offering rebooking options for customers impacted by the storm and the security challenges in Mexico. They include JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Air Canada and AeroMexico.

McCormick suggested that travelers subscribe to text or email alerts from their airlines to receive the latest updates. Going online to look at alternate routes is also helpful. Be sure to check if cancellations or delays are impacting a connecting airport as well as the departure airport and final destination.

Yamat reported from Las Vegas. Associated Press journalists Jake Offenhartz in New York and Juan Lozano in Houston contributed.

A charred vehicle sits at a damaged supermarket in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, after the death of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho." (AP Photo/Alejandra Leyva)

Vehicles drive past a charred bus the day after the Mexican army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," in Guadalajara, Mexico, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

An American Airlines gate is closed at the Philadelphia International Airport on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)

Snow is piled up at the Philadelphia International Airport on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)

Rows of cancelled flights are displayed at the Philadelphia International Airport on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)

Men clear snow off of cars and trucks in a parking lot, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in St. James, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

A sign indicates NJ Transit train service suspension due to snow storm conditions in Rutherford, N.J., Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

Snow covers a path at a train station in Rutherford, N.J., Monday, Feb. 23, 2026 after an intense snowstorm hit the area. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

Pedestrians cross 42nd Street near Bryant Park during a snow storm, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are hanging near their records Wednesday as oil prices fall and ease the pressure on households and businesses worldwide.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% below its all-time high set the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 183 points, or 0.4%, as of 12:56 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.1% lower.

Stocks of companies with big fuel bills helped lead the way on hopes that lower oil prices will remove a big drag on their profits. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings climbed 5.7%, and United Airlines rallied 7.3%. Delta Air Lines rose 3.7% and is on track to set an all-time high.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil fell 4.1% to $95.48 after the ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to hold despite the U.S. military launching what it called “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran. A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude fell even more, 4.2%, to $89.69 on hopes that the United States and Iran can reach an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow oil tankers to exit the Persian Gulf for deliveries again.

Stocks have been able to run to records despite the painful inflation and uncertainty caused by high oil prices largely because companies have reported surprisingly strong profits for the start of 2026, and the forecast is for them to continue.

Bath & Body Works rallied 11.2%, and Abercrombie & Fitch climbed 11.8% after both reported bigger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. That's even as U.S. consumers continue to say they're feeling discouraged about the economy and inflation.

Lululemon Athletica rose 3.6% after reaching a deal with its founder, Chip Wilson, where it will add a former chief marketing officer of ESPN and a former co-CEO of On to its board of directors.

On the losing side of Wall Street was Dick's Sporting Goods, which dropped 4.9% despite delivering a profit for the latest quarter that edged past expectations. Analysts pointed to how much profit it wrung out of each $1 in revenue, which some called a bit weak.

Oil-and-gas stocks also sank, hurt by the dropping prices for crude. Exxon Mobil fell 1.4%, and Chevron slipped 0.8%. Halliburton dropped 3% to bring its gain for the year so far back toward 40%.

In the bond market, Treasury yields eased after falling oil prices took pressure off inflation. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.48% from 4.50% late Tuesday and from 4.67% roughly a week ago.

It’s a respite following recent gains for yields in bond markets worldwide, which threatened to slow economies and undercut prices for stocks and all kinds of other investments. High yields have already forced the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate to its most expensive level since last summer, and they could curtail companies’ borrowing to build the artificial-intelligence data centers that have supported the U.S. economy’s growth recently.

In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed across Europe and Asia. South Korea's Kospi was one of the world's best performers and jumped 2.3% after SK Hynix, which is a big beneficiary of the artificial-intelligence boom, soared 9.3%.

A day before, Micron Technology surged to become the latest Big Tech company to be worth more than $1 trillion on AI excitement. Its stock has more than tripled already in 2026, and analysts at UBS said Tuesday it could soar even more because of how fundamentally AI has improved demand for computer memory.

AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

Trader Edward Curran, left, and specialist Meric Greenbaum, center, work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

A person looks at an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Monday, May 25, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

A dealer walks past near the screens showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won at a dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A dealer walks past near the screens showing the foreign exchange rates at a dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A dealer walks past near the screens showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won at a dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A dealer stands near the screens showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won and the Korean Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (KOSDAQ) at a dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)