Air travelers are finding it’s another turbulence-filled weekend even before they hit the friendly skies, as airlines continue to cancel fights and announce last-minute delays.

This weekend, travelers can expect delays and cancellations as the airline industry struggles with a pilot shortage, weather, and jet fuels remaining at stratospheric prices. Major airports from Los Angeles International to Boston’s Logan International Airport expect significant delays and numerous cancellations, various industry sources predicted earlier in the week.

Ongoing airline issues leave passengers wondering: will this weekend be as bad as last weekend when more than 1,500 flights were canceled and more than 7,000 were delayed? 

According to the flight tracker Flight Aware, American Airlines canceled 170 flights across the country and delayed 73 others. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport accounted for 33 cancellations and 29 delays.

Upset passengers took to social media to voice their frustration with the airline. One passenger upset about missing an important family event was Bryan Lesswing.

“You canceled my flight tomorrow morning and automatically rebooked me for a later date. Now I’m missing a family wedding,” Lesswing tweeted. “American Airlines is ruining an important family event. Plz help me.”

“We’re currently managing weather delays and cancellations which have also affected other carriers,” the airline tweeted. “Cancelations are never part of the plan.”

Airlines have been dealing with an industry-wide staffing and pilot shortage caused by pandemic layoffs, early retirements, and fewer interested applicants.

Besides the airline’s tweet, the company has yet to make an official statement on the cancellations.

Author