Kenya Airways (KQ) has cancelled two scheduled flights between Nairobi and New York due to adverse weather conditions affecting large parts of the United States.
In a customer update issued on Saturday, January 24, 2026, the national carrier confirmed the cancellation of Flight KQ 002 from Nairobi (NBO) to New York (JFK) scheduled for January 24, and Flight KQ 003 from New York (JFK) to Nairobi (NBO) scheduled for January 25.
The airline said the decision was made in the interest of safety, noting that severe weather, including snowstorms, continues to disrupt air travel across the US.
“The safety of our guests and crew remains our highest priority,” KQ said, adding that its teams are closely monitoring the situation and will issue further updates as conditions evolve.
Kenya Airways update on New York flights
The airline also warned that Flight KQ 002 scheduled for Sunday, January 25, may be disrupted, with possible spillover effects on Flight KQ 003 on Monday, January 26, depending on how the weather situation develops.
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Kenya Airways apologised for the inconvenience caused and advised passengers to check for updates through its website, mobile app, or by contacting its Customer Excellence team via phone, WhatsApp, or X (@KQSupport).
The cancellations come as a major winter storm system sweeps across the United States, grounding thousands of flights nationwide.
More than 8,000 flights scheduled for the weekend have been cancelled, according to flight tracking data, while thousands more have been delayed as heavy snow, ice, and extreme cold affect large parts of the country.
Weather warnings have been issued across a vast stretch of the U.S., from New Mexico to New England, with forecasters warning that ice accumulation in parts of the South could cause damage comparable to that of a hurricane.
Life-threatening wind chill temperatures have been recorded in northern states, with readings dropping below minus 45 degrees Celsius in parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota.
Several state governors have also declared emergencies or urged residents to stay off the roads, while federal authorities said emergency response teams were on standby as conditions deteriorated.
Kenya Airways said it will continue to assess the situation and provide guidance to affected customers as weather conditions evolve.
WMO advisory
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a warning on Friday, January 23, 2026, about dangerous winter conditions expected to affect large parts of the United States over the weekend.
In an advisory, WMO said winter weather would develop unevenly across the country, beginning with light mixed precipitation in parts of western Oklahoma before spreading to northern and eastern regions as temperatures continue to fall.
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The agency noted that precipitation is expected to intensify from late Friday afternoon into the evening, increasing the risk of hazardous conditions.
In addition, WMO cautioned that road and air travel could become slippery and unsafe during and after the onset of the storm, urging the public to remain warm and adhere to safety guidance issued by local authorities.
According to the organisation, heavy snowfall is forecast across the Central and Southern Plains and the Middle and Lower Mississippi Valley as the storm system strengthens.
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