A crosswind above about 40mph and tailwind above 10mph can start to cause problems and stop commercial jets taking off and landing. It can sometimes be too windy to take-off or land.

There is no single "magic number" for wind speed that triggers a flight cancellation in 2026, as it depends on the wind direction and the aircraft type. Generally, sustained winds above 30–40 knots (35–45 mph) will cause significant delays. The most critical factor is the "Crosswind Component"—wind blowing sideways across the runway. Most commercial jets have a maximum crosswind limit of 25 to 35 knots for a safe landing. If the wind is blowing directly down the runway (a headwind), planes can take off and land in much higher speeds, sometimes up to 50+ knots. However, ground operations—such as baggage handling and fueling—must stop when winds exceed 40–45 knots for worker safety, which often leads to cancellations even if the plane could technically fly. In 2026, airports like London Heathrow or Chicago O'Hare use AI-driven gust prediction; if gusts are forecast to exceed the safety tolerances of the ground equipment or the aircraft's landing gear, the airline will proactively cancel flights hours in advance.