There were over 1,000 flights canceled and around 17,000 flights delayed over the fourth of July weekend.
More than two million people were reported to have traveled over the holiday, reaching record-high numbers since the pandemic started.
Last Friday, around 1,000 American Airlines flights and 784 Delta Airlines flights were delayed. On Saturday, there were still more than 5,000 flight cancellations, but cancellations had eased from Friday.
Several airlines tried many strategies to control the number of people flying and get more flight attendants and pilots to work on the busy fourth of July weekend.
Delta allowed travelers to change flights for free if they could fly a different day, excluding the July fourth weekend, JetBlue offered bonuses for flight attendants who could still work on the busy weekend, and American Airlines is offering pilots triple pay if they work extra during July.
Airline executives say that understaffing caused many of the cancellations and delays and that many airlines had pilot shortages.
Many airlines are offering cash refunds or miles as compensation for canceled flights. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg states, “You are entitled to cash refunds for canceled flights — that’s a requirement that we will continue to enforce.”
Sources:
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/01/airline-travel-of-july-weekend-puts-airlines-and-travelers-to-the-test-after-difficult-spring.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/record-july-4th-travel-weekend-thousands-flights-delayed-cancelled-rcna36497
More than two million people were reported to have traveled over the holiday, reaching record-high numbers since the pandemic started.
Last Friday, around 1,000 American Airlines flights and 784 Delta Airlines flights were delayed. On Saturday, there were still more than 5,000 flight cancellations, but cancellations had eased from Friday.
Several airlines tried many strategies to control the number of people flying and get more flight attendants and pilots to work on the busy fourth of July weekend.
Delta allowed travelers to change flights for free if they could fly a different day, excluding the July fourth weekend, JetBlue offered bonuses for flight attendants who could still work on the busy weekend, and American Airlines is offering pilots triple pay if they work extra during July.
Airline executives say that understaffing caused many of the cancellations and delays and that many airlines had pilot shortages.
Many airlines are offering cash refunds or miles as compensation for canceled flights. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg states, “You are entitled to cash refunds for canceled flights — that’s a requirement that we will continue to enforce.”
Sources:
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/01/airline-travel-of-july-weekend-puts-airlines-and-travelers-to-the-test-after-difficult-spring.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/record-july-4th-travel-weekend-thousands-flights-delayed-cancelled-rcna36497
