Fourth Of July Holiday Plans Hang In The Balance As Travel Chaos Continues Across The US - With Over 40,000 Flights Delayed Or
2025.01.14 18:11
Fourth of July holiday plans hang in the balance as travel chaos continues across the US - with over 40,000 flights delayed or canceled since Monday.
As of Thursday, at least 9,318 flights had been cancelled and 30,860 delayed this week, with disruption expected to continue into the weekend.
Adding to the mayhem, Nashville International Airport was forced to issue a ground stop for arriving aircraft due to severe thunderstorms, which left a woman dead - before it was eventually lifted at 2:45 pm.
Willard Airport in Illinois also closed after roof damage and power outage due to severe weather at around 1:15 pm Thursday, according to the News Gazette.
Numerous flights were delayed or canceled earlier in the week at Charlotte Douglas International Airport after a Delta Airlines plane landed successfully without landing gear Wednesday morning.
It came after thousands of United Airlines passengers slammed the company for ruining their July 4 weekend plans, with scores stuck at at Newark airport for days.
As of Thursday, travelers at airports across the country faced misery with at least 6,441 flights cancelled and 30,860 delays this week
Travelers wait for their bags amid rows of unclaimed luggage at the United Airlines baggage claim area at Los Angeles International Airport
Nashville International Airport implemented a ground stop for arriving aircraft due to severe thunderstorms which left woman dead.
However, the ground stoppage was lifted at 2:45 pm
Numerous flights were delayed or canceled at Charlotte Douglas International Airport after a Delta Airlines plane landed successfully without landing gear Wednesday morning.
The flight landed 'smoothly' with 96 passengers on board, all of whom were unharmed
Traffic on Interstate 57 remained at a standstill after strong winds caused multiple semi tractor trailers to overturn.
How soon Willard Airport can reopen will depend on how soon its terminal roof can be shored up and power is restored, airport Executive Director Tim Bannon said to the News Gazette.
'We're working on it,' he said.
'We are not operational at the moment.'
Airlines have explained that the flights have been delayed and canceled because of powerful storms ripping through the parts of the country, including in the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Northeast, as well as air traffic control staffing issues.
In a report published last week, the Transportation Department found that most of the 26 critical air traffic control facilities it identified were understaffed by 15 percent or more, as of March 2022.
Monday saw 8,850 flights delayed and 2,252 canceled completely, while Tuesday had 7,789 delays and 2,205 cancellations, Wednesday saw a slight decrease with 7,472 delayed and 1,200 canceled, and Thursday saw 7,682 delays and 747 cancellations - meaning nearly 40,000 have been affected.
As of Thursday, Friday is already expected to see 301 delays and 144 cancellations and Saturday will see 25 cancellations with more to come.
The problem is expected to get even worse today on what is dubbed the busiest day of the holiday weekend, with some 52,500 flights scheduled.
Passengers traveling on United Airlines have been worst hit, with CEO Scott Kirby blaming the FAA for the chaos - saying they 'failed' the industry with low staffing coming into the week.
Passengers have been forced to wait on the phone for six hours in a bid to rebook flights - with many warning that they are 'running out of money and options'.
Many have been waiting in airports across the country and paying for hotels they can't get to.
Others have told of missing out on family weddings, vacations, and once-in-a-life-time concerts.
Travelers rush to ticket counters and navigate crowded security lines at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Thursday in Austin
Travelers wait in check point line for their flights at United Airlines Terminal 1 at O'Hare Airport on Thursday in Chicago
Travelers await their bags amid rows of unclaimed luggage at the United Airlines baggage claim area at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Thursday in Los Angeles, California
United Airlines cancelled hundreds of flights again today amid a chaotic week of flight cancellations and delays amid weather issues and strong traveler demand (Los Angeles)
United baggage claim in Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Thursday
Passengers wait in line to claim their baggage at Nashville International Airport after their flights on Southwest Airlines were cancelled in Nashville, Tennessee
Many have been forced to wait in airports across the country and pay for hotels they can't get to.
Others have told of missing out on family weddings, vacations, and once-in-a-life-time concerts
United Airlines has cancelled nearly 3,000 flights since June 24th as the July 4th holiday travel rush nears on Thursday (Los Angeles, California)
Travelers wait in check point line for their flights at United Airlines Terminal 1 at O'Hare Airport on Thursday. Passengers have complained about being left on hold for up to six hours before the phone is hung up, with many stranded without help
Delayed travelers wait to check in at the United Airlines ticket desk at Terminal C in Newark International Airport in Newark, nj airport car service, Wednesday. The company said that were working through 'higher volumes than usual' but customers still slammed their response on social media
Travelers wait in check point line for their flights at United Airlines Terminal 1 at O'Hare Airport on Thursday in Chicago. United Airlines have been the worst hit, with more than 600 flights canceled in just two days, and more than 500 have been delayed
Willard Airport in Illinois closed after roof damage and power outage due to severe weather at around 1:15 pm Thursday, according to the News Gazette
Monday saw 8,850 flights delayed and 2,252 canceled completely, while Tuesday had 7,789 delays and 2,205 cancellations, and yesterday saw a slight decrease with 7,237 delayed and 1,199 canceled - meaning at least 32,000 have been affected
Thousands of United Airlines passengers have slammed the company for ruining their July 4 weekend amid an expected sixth day of massive nationwide airline delays and cancellations
NEW YORK: Dozens of bags were piled up in baggage claim of JFK yesterday
HOUSTON: United Airlines customer service overwhelmed with guests in Terminal C of Houston airport.
HOUSTON: The line of passengers waiting for United's customer service at Houston Airport's Terminal C
NEW YORK: Travelers sit with their luggage waiting at the departure area check-in at JFK airport, Wednesday.
By early afternoon on the East Coast, nearly 3,000 U.S. flights had been delayed and more than 800 canceled, according to FlightAware
NEW YORK: Travelers use their electronic devices while lying on the floor of the departures area of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport
LOS ANGELES: A traveler checks the departure board at Los Angeles' LAX airport on Wednesday, amid widespread delays and cancelations
LOS ANGELES: Long lines of people are seen waiting to check in for flights at LAX on Wednesday, amid staffing shortages at airlines and the FAA
AUSTIN: A woman in Austin International Airport hunkered down as flight chaos continues
The 'Misery Map' produced by Flight Aware on Thursday showed the disruption
