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The start of the 4th of July bank holiday weekend is just a day away, but troubles at the airport have not eased.
Coast-to-coast travelers are in a bind as airlines continue to cancel and delay scores of flights ahead of the big summer holiday when over 47 million people are expected to travel. About 3.55 million are expected to fly, according to AAA.
More than 2,400 flights to, from and across the United States were delayed and another 418 were canceled as of 3:30 p.m. ET Thursday, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.
FLIGHTMARE: THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS ANNOUNCED, DELAYED, DO YOU NEED INSURANCE?
Travelers check the departure screens for their flight status on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. (AP Photo/Nam Y Huh) (AP Photo/Nam Y Huh/AP Newsroom)
Thousands of flights have been disrupted each day this week, with delays reaching as many as 5,777 on Wednesday, according to FlightAware. A day earlier, delays hit over 4,500, according to the data.
Travelers struggled throughout the summer even after airlines canceled 15% of flights originally scheduled for June through August to make remaining flights more reliable, according to Airlines for America President Nicholas Calio.
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Airlines struggled with inclement weather and labor shortages, particularly among pilots, leading to widespread cancellations over the Memorial Day holiday weekend that usually kicks off the summer travel season. Cancellations hit 4.7% on Friday this bank holiday weekend, according to FlightAware.
A flight is canceled on the departure board at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon/AP Newsroom)
FlightAware spokeswoman Kathleen Bangs told FOX Business that things didn’t get any easier over Father’s Day and the June 16 bank holiday weekend. According to Bangs, the site has seen “a series of delays and even higher cancellations”. On Thursday and Friday this weekend, cancellations hit 6% and 5%, respectively, she said.
Over the past weekend 18,000 flights were delayed from Friday to Sunday, according to FlightAware data. According to the data, every day 23% of all flights were delayed and about 3% were cancelled.
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Delta Air Lines previously told FOX Business that its teams “continue to come through safely.” factors affecting our business operations, This includes more than planned unplanned absences in some of our workgroups, weather and air traffic control restrictions.”
Canceling a flight “is always our last resort, and we sincerely apologize to our customers for any disruption to their travel plans,” Delta added.
Southwest told FOX Business that it “has been working hard to prepare for this busy season and has taken numerous steps to support operational performance.”
Southwest said it has had solid operational reliability in terms of flight completions and a cancellation rate among the lowest of ranked airlines since May.
Representatives from JetBlue, American and United Airlines did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.