Flight disruptions surged on Tuesday as severe storms and staffing issues led to a challenging start to the summer travel season. Over 7,700 U.S. flights were delayed, and nearly 2,200 were canceled, according to FlightAware.
This follows more than 8,800 delays and close to 2,250 cancellations on Monday. The storms that caused weekend chaos continued to affect heavily trafficked airspace, further compounding the issues.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted flights to major New York-area airports, including LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International, and Newark Liberty, resulting in average delays of three hours or more. The FAA cited thunderstorms obstructing key arrival and departure routes as the cause.
These disruptions come ahead of the busy Fourth of July holiday, with travel expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels. The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening more travelers than in 2019, intensifying competition for available seats.
FAA staffing shortages and extreme weather contribute to a challenging start to the summer travel season, with major New York airports experiencing significant disruptions.Despite the Biden administration’s push for airlines to improve operations following last summer’s widespread disruptions, the industry struggled over the weekend due to persistent thunderstorms. These storms, which can develop with little warning, contributed to rolling delays and potential crew duty hour violations, exacerbating the situation.
Since Saturday, around 30,000 flights have been delayed, with cancellation rates more than triple the annual average. Airlines have also pointed to air traffic controller shortages as a contributing factor.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby criticized the FAA for reducing arrival and departure rates during the storms, which led to significant operational delays and crew shortages.
The FAA, already grappling with staffing issues exacerbated by the pandemic, has been working to address these challenges. The Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General recently highlighted these staffing shortfalls as a risk to air traffic operations.
As airlines prepare for the busy summer season, disruptions have led to frustration among flight crews and longer hold times for scheduling.
In response, airlines like United and JetBlue are implementing measures to mitigate the impact and manage the ongoing challenges.