Flight delays and cancellations plagued thousands of travelers on Friday, especially affecting United Airlines passengers as bad weather disrupted Fourth of July plans.
The Transportation Security Administration anticipated screening 17.7 million people from June 29 through July 5, with a record 2.8 million on Friday alone. Despite the high travel demand indicating a recovery from the Covid pandemic, severe weather severely hampered operations.
By 5 p.m. Friday, over 4,800 U.S. flights were delayed, with United Airlines experiencing the most issues. The carrier canceled over 230 flights and delayed more than 790, making up over a quarter of its schedule, according to FlightAware.
Earlier in the week, thunderstorms along the East Coast at major airports had set off the chaos. Airline executives attributed some problems to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) air traffic controller shortages, which compounded the weather-related disruptions.
FAA staffing shortages and thunderstorms exacerbate travel chaos during the Fourth of July rush.Passengers faced long waits sprawled on airport floors, standing in extensive lines for customer service, and dealing with lost luggage. Even United Airlines’ CEO Scott Kirby resorted to taking a private jet from New Jersey to Denver, apologizing later for the decision, acknowledging it was insensitive given the widespread delays.
United’s performance showed signs of improvement into the holiday weekend. The airline offered waivers to affected travelers, allowing rebooking without fare differences, but warned that ongoing storms in Denver, Chicago, and the East Coast would continue to pose challenges.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg acknowledged United’s elevated but improving disruptions. Airlines, pressured by both political and public expectations, struggled to maintain reliable operations amid the high travel demand post-pandemic.
More storms and wildfire smoke from Canada threatened further disruptions. From Saturday through Thursday, U.S. airlines delayed over 42,000 flights and canceled more than 7,900. United Airlines saw half of its flights delayed, averaging 106 minutes, and 19% canceled.
Union leaders criticized United’s management for exacerbating the situation through inadequate staffing and support. Both the Association of Flight Attendants and the Air Line Pilots Association are negotiating for better compensation and scheduling.
FAA staffing shortages further complicated operations, particularly at Newark Liberty International Airport. United CEO Kirby and JetBlue’s COO Joanna Geraghty both highlighted the FAA’s role in the extensive delays and cancellations, attributing much of the turmoil to unexpected air traffic control restrictions.