Tag: Delays

These Are The 3 U.S. Airlines With The Most Delays Amid Travel Chaos

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It has been a chaotic summer for airports and airlines, with thousands of canceled flights, routes being cut, and some airports even capping daily flights. Pent-up demand from two years of Covid has collided with short-staffed airlines to create a perfect storm of travel chaos. Based on data from Cirium, an analytics company focused on aviation, the three U.S. airlines that have had the most delays in the past month are Allegiant Airlines, JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines.

The data was collected between June 4^th and July 3^rd and measured the percentage of flights with on-time performance for ten different airlines based in North America. Allegiant Airlines had 39% of their flights delayed, JetBlue had 36%, and Southwest Airlines had 29%. In this case, higher percentage indicates worse performance, meaning Allegiant was the U.S. airline with the most delays for the period measured.

Allegiant: #1 Airline With The Most Delays

Allegiant Airlines was the most affected airline with 39% of their flights delayed. Drew Wells, Senior Vice President of Revenue at Allegiant, stated in a press release that the company saw a rise in Covid cases in mid-May, which resulted in a string of flight cancellations due to a reduction in crew members available to fly. And while Covid has undoubtedly played a role in cancellations, the airline has also had to be forced to make cancellations due to a labor shortage. “Earlier this year, due to market conditions, including industry-wide staffing shortages and high fuel prices, we proactively made some capacity reductions to our summer schedule,” said Allegiant in a statement regarding cancellations of flights to Mesa, Arizona.

JetBlue: #2 Airline With The Most Delays

JetBlue struggled with delays and nearly had the same percentage canceled as Allegiant with a total of 36% of JetBlue’s flights delayed. JetBlue has also seen issues with staffing, a trend that seems to be hitting almost all industries. In April, the airline announced that it would be cutting its summer schedule by more than 10% of its originally planned flights. In the press release, JetBlue states that their training facility in Orlando is operating at max capacity and that having a solid in-flow of pilots is a focus.

The company has had trouble attracting and retaining pilots, and the pilot union leadership at JetBlue even issued a vote of no confidence on April 25^th for the executive overseeing system operations and airports. Captain Chris Kenney, the chair of the JetBlue unit at the Air Line Pilots Association, said in a statement that the union is seeing disruption in operations at all levels. He went on to say that while customers’ flights are being canceled, JetBlue pilots are also feeling the pain and spend hours on hold with the airline to figure out if they even have a place to sleep for the night.

Southwest Airlines: #3 Airline With The Most Delays

Southwest performed better than Allegiant and JetBlue, but still had 29% of their flights delayed. Southwest made headlines a few weeks ago when nearly 1,300 demonstrators with the Southwest Airline Pilots Association (SWAPA) protested at the Dallas Love Field Airport. The pilots were protesting for more stable scheduling and updated contracts. Captain Case Murray, SWAPA President, stated that the company’s pilots are getting sick of saying ‘I’m sorry’ on every flight. With constant delays and even cancellations, the pilots are not able to operate their flights.

The airline cut almost 20,000 flights from its summer schedule to deal with the surge in travel demand. The company also increased its hiring plans, aiming to hire 10,000 new workers by the end of the year. Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan stated on April 28^th that he was “cautiously optimistic” of the company’s ability to operate the flight schedules for the rest of the year after the cuts. The latest data shows he was right to be cautious.

Traveling This Summer

Those planning to travel this summer should prepare for the worst and hope for the best. While cancellations and delays have run rampant, not all travelers have seen their itineraries ruined. Knowing your passenger rights, being prepared to stay an extra night or two at your destination, and staying positive amid the chaos are some of the best ways to make it through this chaotic summer travel season.

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July 9, 2022
Canadian Airlines And Airports Now Have The Worst Delays In The World

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Although hopes were high for the first restriction-free travel season, the current chaos seen at airports is making two years of Covid look more and more like a mild disturbance. Flight delays, cancellations, lost luggage reports and emergency re-routing due to air traffic congestion are now widespread across the industry.

No matter how seasoned a traveler is, or how early they check in and arrive at the airport, there is now a risk they may miss their flight anyway, as wait lines get bigger and security staff struggle to keep up with the endless flow of people. Even though the entire word is facing this travel misery, there is one country being hit much harder than others.

On top of handling the stratospheric passenger numbers, a challenge on its own now that staff is limited, this nation’s tale of woe can be largely attributed to one thing: the Covid regulations they continue to enforce at their outer borders, and that only increase bureaucracy and make delays far worse.

Welcome to Canada, the land of the f… Flight delays?

Is Canada The Last Country You Want To Be Traveling To Now?

If you’re one of our avid readers, you might have noticed Canada has featured a lot on Travel Off Path lately, and for all the wrong reasons. While other countries are now being praised for relaxing restrictions and emerging from a two-year state of emergency, Canada is one of a select few in the Western World where Covid travel regulations still apply.

Besides the most obvious consequence – lost revenue and the devastation of the tourism sector – another problem arising from these strict border policies are the airport delays. Currently, in order to enter Canada, passengers must present a vaccine certificate, unless exempt, and download the ArriveCan app.

It may sound like two simple requirements, but Canadian authorities have been known to thoroughly check that incoming passengers are complying with health measures, even subjecting them to random testing on arrival. Inevitably, these policies have hampered the industry’s full recovery, and it seems like it’s only making airport delays worse.

According to Canada’s Conservative Party, during the July 1 weekend, passengers transiting Canadian airports suffered more flight delays than others in ‘nearly any other country in the world’. The opposing has repeatedly called for the Trudeau Administration to drop the remaining rules, seen as a major contributor to this travel chaos.

In their latest tweet addressed to the Government, the Conservatives were the ones to (ironically) urge the Liberals to ‘axe’ the ArriveCan app and eliminate ‘unscientific’ mandates. The party believes that, by removing these barriers to travel, Canada’s economy will return to ‘pre-pandemic normal’ and the disruptions will ease.

Travel Disruptions May Not Be Exclusive To Canada, But Hard Rules Are Certainly Not Helping

To be fair to the Canadian Government, this alarming spate of delays is not a Canadian-exclusive concern. Numerous countries in Europe, including those that have dropped all Covid rules, have been struggling just the same, as the travel floodgates open and the lack of staff forces airlines to scale back operations.

That being said, none of these countries’ flag carriers have announced they are axing over 9000 flights this summer, or are recording tourist figures far below 2019 levels. Canada’s travel industry is hanging by a thread due to the the country’s self-inflicted, crippling restrictions, and the longer this goes on, the harder it will be for travel to fully resume.

Even after the mass cancelling of flights, which provoked the ire of hundreds of thousands of Canadians, Air Canada and Toronto’s Pearson Airport stubbornly ranked as the worst for flight delays worldwide on June 26. As reported by The Canadian Press, 65 per cent of Air Canada’s flights arrived late.

In fact, the top three reveal has only served to tarnish Canada’s reputation as a global hub: all spots were claimed by Canadian carriers. Montreal-based Jazz Aviation was allocated in the runner-up slot, narrowly followed by Air Canada Rouge, with a large percentage of flights landing late – at times, much later – than originally scheduled.

When it comes to airports, Canada’s busiest airport Pearson, serving Toronto, was the only one to have more than half of all flight departures delayed. The North American country also saw a second airport chart inside the top ten, as Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau was ranked the tenth worst airport for flight disruptions right now.

What Are My Rights When My Flight Is Canceled?

The origin of the crisis can be traced back to the travel resurgence now that Covid is largely under control and staffing issues at airports: the perfect recipe for disaster. Faced with criticism, Canada’s Government has reacted and recently announced all canceled flights in Canada will be refunded regardless of reason.

The new regulation aims to appease customers who might be feeling anxious regarding travel this summer, or are even reconsidering flying due to the volatile scenario and the horror stories coming out of airports. Regretfully, as it is yet to come into effect, passengers have remained at the mercy of understaffed airlines.

As per the ‘Long Delay and Flight Cancellation Notice‘, under the Canadian Air Passenger Protection Regulations (shortened APPR), if an Air Canada flight is delayed for three hours or more, or canceled, passengers have a right to be compensated. This includes food and drink in ‘reasonable quantities’ and free accommodation.

Will My Rights As A Passenger Be Respected?

Even though Air Canada is legally bound to offer refunds for long delays or cancellations, this rule has reportedly not been followed. In a viral video posted to TikTok, a frustrated customer (identified as @lala.haze) details her stressful experience with the airline following a six-hour delay, only to have her flight cancelled.

According to the TikTok user, she then proceeded to call the airline. In her own words, after no help was provided at the front desk, she waited on hold for ‘over six hours’ until being rebooked on a flight leaving in the morning. Hotel and food expenses were not covered by Air Canada and the passenger faced a further 4 hour delay the next day.

The cherry on top? Her luggage reportedly didn’t make the next flight, and only $10 were offered as compensation. In the comment section, others shared their own Air Canada stories, ranging from equally bad experiences to more satisfactory ones. The airline has not offered a comment on this particular case.

Travel Insurance Is Key

Covid may have dwindled, but the pandemic-era unpredictability is still very much present. With all the havoc being wreaked in the travel world, we strongly advise you to get insured for delays, cancellations and lost luggage ahead of boarding your next flight. You can read more about Travel Insurance for 2022 here.

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July 8, 2022
These 10 U.S. Airports Have The Most Delays
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As the world adjusts to post-pandemic travel once more, it’s clear that many things have changed for the worse – and we’re not just talking about mask-wearing or confusing entry requirements any more. There are new mainstays of the travel experience that travelers are encountering in growing numbers, and flight delays are amongst the most common and frustrating parts of travel in 2022 that travelers will have to get used to.

Whilst most travelers will be unfortunate enough to encounter delays at one time or another, there are certain airports that carry an increased risk of your flight being affected – and others where the risk is far smaller.

Here’s a look at which ten airports in the US have the most delays, which airports are the best when it comes to flights avoiding delays, and what the industry is doing to tackle the growing problem of flight delays.

US Airports With Most Delays – Information For Travelers

It’s been the best of times and the worst of times for travelers so far this year. Whilst most top travel destinations around the world have removed their Covid-19 related entry restrictions and shown travelers the green light to visit, soaring ticket costs, mass cancellations and thousands of delays have somewhat dampened the appetite for travel that has been growing since the pandemic first grounded travelers in the US.

Whilst delays may be unavoidable, travelers actually have a better chance of avoiding delays depending on which airport they are departing from. Information collected by the aviation company FlightAware has revealed which airports featured the most delayed flights in the US, and which airports had the fewest.

The airports with the most delayed flights are as follows:
- Miami – 25% of flights delayed
- Dallas Love Field – 26% of flights delayed
- New York JFK – 27% of flights delayed
- Denver – 28% of flights delayed
- Fort Lauderdale – 28% of flights delayed
- Southwest Florida (Fort Myers) – 28% of flights delayed
- Baltimore – 29% of flights delayed
- Orlando – 30% of flights delayed
- Newark Liberty – 31% of flights delayed
- Chicago Midway – 33% of flights delayed
The statistics show that it’s the East coast airports that are more negatively affected by flight delays, with several airports having as many as 1 in 4 flights affected by delays – and the worst affected seeing one out of every three flights affected by delays.

Airports With The Least Amount Of Delays

In terms of airports with minimal delays, Anchorage is the best airport, with only 9% of its departing flights facing a delay. Portland is second with 13%, with Honolulu taking the bronze medal with just 14% of flights delays. San Francisco, Maui and Salt Lake City also faced delays for just 15% of their flights.

Fixing The Problem – What Travelers Should Know

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is well aware of the issue of flight delays and the impact it has on travel, and is working hard to find solutions. One solution being considered is to allow airlines to fly at lower altitudes in order to be less affected by inclement weather – though this approach will use up more fuel than flying at the typical altitude, which could cause flight ticket prices to rise even further. Perhaps a more practical solution, the FAA has hired 500 new air traffic controllers, with plans to add almost 5,000 more in the coming years, which should help reduce delays.

Airlines themselves have also taken it upon themselves to find solutions. American Airlines launched their own program to try and analyze air traffic and potential disruptions even earlier, allowing them to be proactive and reduce as many cancellations as possible. However, with a general staff shortage and flight bookings reaching new highs, we’re likely to see further delays plague travelers this summer.

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June 17, 2022
Canadian Travelers Vacations Are Being Ruined By Passport Delays

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Passport applications have increased four times compared to last year’s data and Service Canada hasn’t met citizens’ needs

After two long years of a devastating pandemic, Canadian travelers are finally planning on visiting foreign destinations and enjoying vacations while the travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 have been eased around the world. However, passport offices aren’t working as fast and efficiently as citizens need.

The Canadian government’s program in charge of passports, Service Canada, hasn’t been able to keep up with the passport applications they’ve been receiving.

According to the information shared by CTV News, between April 2020 and March 2021, the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada reported that 363,000 had been issued and during the same period from 2021 to 2022 the agency Service Canada has issued nearly 1.3 million passports, almost four times the documents issued during the previous period.

Passports —which can cost from 57 to 160 Canadian dollars depending on age and duration— have become a hot commodity in Canada and due to the high demand for renewal and new documents, Canadians have been facing long passport processing times, long lines at the offices, delays, and frustration as many travelers have been obliged to cancel, reschedule, or have even missed their trips.

Delays In Passport Processing Times

Canadians have been complaining about the organization and the lack of staff in the offices, and have been reporting delays in the usual time. According to the government’s standard procedure, when submitted in person at the passport office, it takes 10 business days to issue a passport, and 20 business days by mail.

The government has also informed that Service Canada has been receiving more calls than usual: around 200,000 calls a day, while prior to the pandemic the usual number rounded 5,000 calls a day.

On the passports and travel documents official website, Canada’s government issued a warning for travelers: “We’re experiencing very high call volumes right now. Wait times are longer than usual. If you do not have travel plans in the next 2 weeks, we suggest you wait to call us.”

According to a recent report made by Global News, the Canadian government hasn’t publicly recognized recent delays or changes in processing times, but citizens said that lines at the offices are too long and certain offices have collapsed. Another person declared to CTV News that he had been waiting “well over two months” since he applied and hasn’t received the passport.

Authorities have explained that recent health and safety measures have affected the way they process applications and stated on the website: “We may not always meet our service standards as a result.”

Recommendation For Travelers

Canada isn’t the only country with delays issuing passports, a few weeks ago the U.S. State Department warned American citizens that passport processing times can take up to 11 weeks. Travelers must apply for passports weeks or even months in advance in order to avoid delays or unexpected circumstances.

Canadian authorities insist that passport processing times are met for those who book their appointments online before going to the passport office in person and it is recommended to do so.

After issuing the passport, the standard pick-up time is around 10 business days, but travelers can request expedited services —available in person— and pay $110 for urgent pick-up to get it by the next business day, $50 for express pick-up to get the passport within the next 2 to 9 business days, or $20 for standard pick-up on or after 10 business days.

Before planning the next international trip, travelers must verify the validity of their passport and study the entry requirements of their destination, since many countries require from 6 to 3 months of passport validity to enter their territory. Canadian travelers should also stay up to date with news and official information shared on the government’s passport application page.

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories

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May 18, 2022
Florida Is Seeing Its Worse Flights Delays In Years Causing Frustration For Travelers

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Federal Aviation Authorities Are Working On Solutions To Fix The Mass Flight Delays In Florida

If you are traveling to Florida, pack large amounts of patience in your bags. Now that pandemic restrictions have been eased, more airlines are expanding their flight services and more travelers are eager to go on vacations. As a result, air traffic is busier than ever, especially in Florida.

There are different factors jamming up the skies: more airlines resuming flight services, new low-cost airlines adding services—Avelo recently opened its third base in Orlando—, private jets, space launches, thunderstorms, staff shortages, and soon hurricane season. Florida’s air traffic is facing a terrible gridlock and it’s becoming a huge problem affecting thousands of travelers.

Last weekend thunderstorms in Florida and technology issues were the main reasons why over 10,000 flights were canceled or delayed. Local and national authorities are working together to find solutions to meeting air traffic demands, which have surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Wednesday that they are working on fixing the aviation system.

The situation is already troubling many travelers. Thousands of passengers that have been affected by recent delays and flight cancellations have had to pay extra for meals, hotels, and transportation alternatives.

Federal Aviation Administration’s Solution

One of the main solutions the FAA—responsible for the traffic control system across the United States— finds essential is to increase staffing in Florida to improve traffic flow.

In a statement, the agency said: “Because representatives said Florida operations will continue increasing past 2019 levels, the FAA will immediately increase the number of authorized staff at Jacksonville Center and evaluate other Florida facilities.”

The FAA held a “productive” two-day meeting with industry members, including airlines, aviation groups, and unions, to discuss the issues and the possible solutions. Airlines executives will continue to expand services in the region due to high demand, so the solution is to optimize the system and hire more air traffic controllers for the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center.

Other factors discussed were weather conditions, space launches, and military exercises that usually translate into airspace closures, stopping airlines from flying and delivering services on time.

The FAA promised to work on alternatives: “The agency will also work with stakeholders to develop a playbook to keep aircraft moving safely when weather, space launches or other events constrain capacity.” And added: “The FAA will increase the ability for airlines to keep aircraft moving during these events by using alternate routes and altitudes when possible.”

The agency also assured that authorities will be meeting with airlines throughout the summer to improve services and guarantee continuous plane flow.

Members of the industry are feeling hopeful. Barry Biffle, Frontier Chief Executive Officer, said on a conference call that the current situation of the traffic control is “an unsustainable thing” and added: “We’re really excited that the FAA is stepping in knee-deep on this.”

Travelers Love Florida

According to data shared on CNBC, Florida hit a record of 118 million domestic visitors last year. Americans have been finding ways to travel to the Sunshine State, including hiring private jets during the pandemic.

Peter Maestrales, chief executive officer of charter broker Airstream Jets, said to Bloomberg: “Palm Beach was typically a pretty quiet airport, now it’s unbelievable the departure delays, and just the amount of aircraft parked on the tarmac out there.”

Compared to 2019—before the pandemic— now services to West Palm Beach have increased by 132%, Tampa by 107%, and Miami by 113% according to FAA data. Travelers are eager to visit these coastal cities and the trend suggests that these numbers will keep going up.

Travelers visiting Florida in the following weeks should bear in mind that delays and flight cancellations might still happen, but feel hopeful that local authorities and the industry members are already working on solutions.

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories

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May 7, 2022
Americans Flying To The UK Risk Long Delays At Border And Flight Cancellations

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Americans visiting the United Kingdom this summer could be faced with a number of adversities both before and/or soon upon landing, as both UK-based airlines and the country’s immigration services struggle with staff shortages which have led to major disruption.

Much like JetBlue and Alaska Airlines across the pond, British carriers have been suffering from Covid-related absences. Besides revised schedules and multiple cancellations, the fact that the UK Border Force is severely understaffed will only add to the woes of UK-bound travelers.

Dozens Of Flights Cancelled Ahead Of Easter

Again citing a temporary reduction in staff as a result of Covid isolation guidelines, multiple flights were axed at British airports this week, throwing the travel plans of many into turmoil. Flag bearer British Airways and low-cost carrier EasyJet were among the most affected.

On April 13, a total of 70 flights were canceled between the two, with customers flying via London Heathrow and London Gatwick, notoriously the UK’s two busiest hubs, taking the brunt of it. Seeing that both Heathrow and Gatwick are the main gateways into Britain, visitors are advised to make contingency plans.

One of the best ways American travelers can minimize disruption brought about by flight cancellations or positive Covid tests while abroad is by purchasing travel insurance in advance. On this post, you can find out all you need to know about travel insurance that covers Covid and how exactly you can benefit from it.

Unfortunately, it seems exercising a higher degree of caution will continue to be the norm, as Johan Lundgren, EasyJet’s chief executive, reveals the company has seen staff absence rates of 20% in ‘some cases’. This left the airline no option but to cancel a number of flights.

More worryingly, Lundgren stated processing delays in security checks for new crew were ‘also contributing to flight cancellations’, signalling other entities in the aviation sector may also be dealing with a huge backlog of work.

Staff Shortages Behind Wave Of UK Flight Cancellations

Lundgren’s concerns seem to corroborate Kully Sandhu’s statement to BBC Radio 4, the managing director of Aviation Recruitment Network Limited. According to Sandhu, ‘it is going to take at least the next 12 months for the industry vacancy-wise to settle down’.

To put it simply, despite its recent reopening, vacations in Great Britain may not be completely hassle-free for a while still, as a wave of cancellations sweeps across airports.

Despite the turbulent period, EasyJet has still flown 94% of its scheduled flights in the seven days leading up to April 12, or ‘four times higher than this time last year’.

On the other hand, Lucy Moreton, from the Immigration Services Union, warned that Border Force was “catastrophically under-staffed“, as high Covid rates translate into more absent officers, adding that it takes nearly a whole year to fully train new ones.

In an interview with the BBC, Moreton reiterated that the Border Force is failing to attract enough candidates to fill the vacancies, warning of a challenging summer ahead, as restrictions ease and people begin flying again.

While Americans visiting Britain usually enjoy smooth, fast-track entry, as U.S. citizens are eligible to use eGates when crossing the border, understaffing may still lead to longer waiting in lines.

Like Mexico did some weeks ago, in this case, due to record arrival figures, we expect the UK government to detail how the impacts of Covid on airports will be mitigated.

What Measures Has The UK Taken To Mitigate The Delays?

So far, cash incentives have been offered for those willing to work extra shifts in Heathrow, Britain’s number one airport. Staff from other airports, including in Scotland and Northern Ireland have also been flown to London to help fill in the gaps.

In light of the recent events, Heathrow has assured the public new recruits can start working between three to six months following training and security checks, and that 1,000 new security officers are expected to assume their roles by summer.

The UK Home Office, which oversees border activities, also reaffirmed their ‘number one priority is to maintain a secure border’. Accordingly, they will be deploying additional staff ‘to help minimize queuing times for passengers.

In the meantime, travelers are warned of ‘congestion in check-in areas at peak times’.

As Europe sets out on a reopening path, with some nations scrapping all existing Covid measures, more and more tourists are returning to its shores for their yearly breaks. A favorite among Americans, the UK is no exception, having removed all internal restrictions and welcoming all travelers again, without restrictive entry rules.

For more news on travel to Europe, please visit this link.

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April 14, 2022