More than 1,100 flights were canceled on Friday. Bad weather threatens more
It’s been another tough day for America’s airline passengers, to say the least.
As of 3 p.m. Eastern Friday, more than 1,100 flights had been canceled in the United States, with over 3,700 more delayed, according to FlightAware. Some of Friday’s problems may be a result of planes not being in a position to fly their first flights in the morning after cancellations on Thursday.
American Airlines has the most cancellations so far, with around 200 flights cut, representing 6% of the airline’s schedule for the day. However, these figures do not include American Eagle flights operated by the airline̵[ads1]7;s regional affiliates.
The Federal Aviation Administration implemented delay programs at Northeast airports Friday afternoon, warning that air traffic restrictions could extend as far south as Florida before the end of the day. Airports in the West are also affected by the weather.
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Summer squeeze for the aviation network
Across the board, it’s been a frustrating summer for passengers as airlines trim schedules and airports, but in the U.S. and abroad struggle to cope with rising travel demand.
Earlier in the pandemic, airlines cut back when people stayed at home. But with restrictions lifted, people are traveling this summer like it’s 2019 again, and carriers say they don’t have enough people on their rosters to fly the schedules they had planned.
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That has led to many airlines – including American, United, Delta and JetBlue – announcing cuts and even ending service to some smaller cities.
Experts say it could take as much as a year for things to return to normal.
What you are entitled to if your flight is cancelled
If your flight is canceled and you choose not to travel on a new itinerary, the Department for Transport requires your airline to give you a refund, even if you have purchased a non-refundable ticket.
In case of delay, the rules are a bit unclear. The DOT says passengers are entitled to compensation if a “significant” delay occurs, but the department has not yet defined what qualifies as significant.
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Ultimately, this means that it is currently up to the individual airlines to decide how and when to compensate passengers whose flights are delayed.
The DOT announced earlier this week that it plans to clarify these rules, making them more consumer-friendly. On Wednesday, the agency opened a portal for public comments on updates to its cancellation and delay compensation regulations.