![]() ![]() With consecutive days of extreme winter weather across our network behind us, continuing challenges are impacting our Customers and Employees in a significant way that is unacceptable.Īnd our heartfelt apologies are just beginning. In a government audit published last week, the Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General found that the FAA has made “limited efforts" to have adequate staffing at critical air traffic control facilities, noting that the agency “continues to face staffing challenges and lacks a plan to address them, which in turn poses a risk to the continuity of air traffic operations.Southwest Airlines Working to Recover from Operational Challenges: Update 6 – Dec 26, 2022 The agency resorted to nudging airlines to reduce flights in the New York City area this summer, and it opened 169 new flight paths over the East Coast to reduce bottlenecks. The FAA is training about 3,000 more controllers, but they won’t be ready for this summer's travel. Still, officials warn of lingering staffing shortages, notably among key air traffic controllers. Airlines have hired about 30,000 workers since then, including thousands of pilots, and they are using bigger planes to reduce flights but not the number of seats. Industry officials argue that carriers have fixed problems that contributed to a surge in flight cancellations and delays last summer, when 52,000 flights were nixed from June through August. ![]() The DOT also has an online dashboard that allows travelers to compare cancelation and delay policies of major carriers.ĪRE FLIGHT CANCELATIONS TRENDING LOWER IN 2023?įlight cancellations trended lower throughout the spring of 2023 than last year, according to data from the FAA. Many airlines do offer accommodations, so you should check with their staff. As announced last month, the Biden adminstration is seeking to require that airlines compensate travelers and cover their meals and hotel rooms if they are stranded for reasons within the carrier's control - but, as of now, each airline still has its own policies about providing for customers whose flights are canceled, according to the DOT. IS THE AIRLINE REQUIRED TO GIVE ME A HOTEL ROOM, OR OTHER COMPENSATION? ![]() Agents are typically under a lot of pressure when a flight is canceled, so giving them some options helps.Įbenhoch also suggested looking for alternative airports that are close to your original destination. Jeff Klee, CEO of, previously recommended researching alternate flights while you’re waiting to talk to an agent. Airlines aren’t required to put you on another airline’s flight, but they can, and sometimes do, according to the DOT. Here’s some of their advice for dealing with a flight cancellation: Staying calm - and knowing your rights - can go a long way if your flight is canceled, experts say. ![]() Thousands of additional travelers experienced delays. flights had been canceled as of 2:45 p.m. flights were canceled on Saturday and Sunday combined, according to flight tracking service FlightAware, and more than 1,400 U.S. Departures resumed after repairs were completed.īeyond D.C., a chain of flights were also delayed or halted at other major travel hubs - including New York, Chicago and Atlanta - as thunderstorms moved across the country. The Federal Aviation Administration briefly paused operations at Washington, D.C.-area airports Sunday evening due to a problem with the communications system at a major air traffic control facility. In addition to bad weather, a technology failing also contributed to to airline disruptions. WASHINGTON - Amid peak summer travel, thousands of air travelers faced flight cancellations and delays this weekend and Monday as thunderstorms rolled in across the U.S. ![]()
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