Travelers suffered lengthy delays at U.S. airports on Wednesday, an ominous sign ahead of the July 4 Independence Day long weekend, which stands as a major test for airlines struggling to cope with demand. increasing number of flights
Nearly 1,500 flights were delayed and another 700 canceled across the country, according to FlightAware.
The area most affected by cancellations and delays was the Atlantic coast, and the situation was rapidly worsening. The disturbances are expected to spread to the west.
Tuesday’s thunderstorms in the Northeast complicated the situation. On several occasions the Federal Aviation Administration delayed flights to New York’s LaGuardia airport and those to Washington and Baltimore.
about 6,500 flights they were delayed and 1,900 canceled on the Atlantic coast. United Airlines canceled 500 flights, 18% of the total, and JetBlue 16% of its own, according to FlightAware.
It can be said that it is the storm that precedes the storm.
Travel has risen steadily every year since the pandemic, and some 2.4 million people were airborne on Tuesday, up 11% from the same day last year, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
A peak of more than 52,500 flights is expected for Thursday, the busiest day of the holiday period.
People who saw their travel plans disrupted take their anger out on airlines on social media. Some swear they will never fly the airline that wronged them again.
If large numbers of passengers are stranded or delayed over the weekend, a major shift of blame between federal authorities and the airlines is to be expected.
FUENTE: AP
