The start of the holiday travel season brought significant disruptions to flight schedules, with several airlines reporting a high number of delays and cancellations. According to monitoring by FlightAware and reports from Newsweek, the most affected carriers were SkyWest, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.
On Friday, SkyWest experienced 944 delays and 70 cancellations, followed by 690 delays and 16 cancellations on Saturday and 526 delays and 50 cancellations on Sunday. United Airlines reported 1,182 delays and 36 cancellations on Friday, 692 delays and 17 cancellations on Saturday, and 649 delays and 10 cancellations on Sunday. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines recorded 1,030 delays and 51 cancellations on Friday, 854 delays and 62 cancellations on Saturday, and 728 delays and 46 cancellations on Sunday.
These figures position the three airlines as the most affected during the early days of the peak travel period.
Reasons Behind Delays
Experts note that flight delays and cancellations are primarily caused by high passenger volumes, adverse weather conditions, and airport congestion. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), air travel increased compared to previous years, adding pressure on both the airport infrastructure and the airlines’ operations.
Tips for Travelers
Authorities and airlines recommend that passengers check flight status in advance, allow extra time for airport transfers, and be prepared for possible schedule changes. While most flights are eventually rescheduled, punctuality remains a challenge during peak periods.
