Numerous travelers are facing significant disruptions across the U.S. today, as a combined total of 420 flights have been canceled and a staggering 4,120 flights delayed, affecting numerous airlines, including Alaska, American, Envoy, Horizon, and Frontier.
Cities like Dallas, Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas, Boise, Eugene, and Fairbanks are particularly experiencing severe travel chaos.
At the heart of this widespread disruption is a recent IT outage at Alaska Airlines, which resulted in the grounding of flights nationwide.
This technical failure caused extensive delays, leaving many travelers stranded in airports for several hours.
While operations have resumed, the ripple effects of the outage continue as airlines work diligently to clear the backlog of flights.
The ongoing situation, combined with additional operational challenges, has resulted in an overwhelming number of cancellations and delays.
Passengers are advised to stay updated by regularly checking their flight statuses and to reach out to their airlines for rebooking options or travel plan updates.
**Reasons for Travel Disruptions**
Alaska Airlines has been grappling with operational challenges since a data center failure grounded hundreds of flights on Thursday night.
This prompted a ground stop that affected all of Alaska Airlines operations and its subsidiary Horizon Air, lasting for approximately eight hours until it was lifted at 11:30 p.m. PT.
Although flights have since resumed, hundreds were canceled due to the IT outage, which was confirmed not to be related to cybersecurity issues.
Alaska Airlines is focused on restoring normal operations, though the airline has indicated that further disruptions are likely as they work on repositioning aircraft and crews.
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Alaska Airlines’ primary hub, was significantly impacted by this outage.
Additionally, several airports across the country are facing major delays and shutdowns due to various operational issues, further complicating the situation for travelers.
At General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS), the airport is currently closed to non-scheduled transient General Aviation (GA) aircraft, though some exceptions can be made with prior permission.
This closure has caused disruptions in flight operations and will affect passenger travel for those traveling to or from BOS, which may require alternative routes or rebooking.
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) has reported an average ground delay of 17 minutes for departures, attributed to unspecified operational issues that have caused slower-than-usual departure times.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is also witnessing departures delayed by an average of 34 minutes due to unspecified operational issues impacting departing flights significantly.
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is closed to non-scheduled transient GA aircraft, and while scheduled commercial flights are unaffected, departures from this airport are experiencing an average delay of 15 minutes due to an aircraft emergency, which is leading to increased hold-ups.
Teterboro Airport (TEB) has reported average departure delays of 30 minutes and increasing, related to voluntary individual releases, which are contributing to an ongoing backlog of departing flights.
These extensive delays and closures are creating a monumental impact on travel plans, affecting both commercial and general aviation flights across the U.S.
Travelers are urged to stay in touch with their airlines to receive real-time updates and information on available rebooking options.
**Total Delays and Cancellations Across U.S. Airports**
As of today, airports across the United States are facing an unprecedented level of disruptions, with current totals indicating 4,120 delays and 420 flight cancellations.
These issues are largely attributed to a mix of weather-related challenges, air traffic control staffing issues, and the technical difficulties that airlines are encountering.
Several of the country’s busiest airports are experiencing significantly high numbers of delays.
**Airports Affected by Delays and Cancellations**
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) stands out as one of the worst-hit locations, recording 106 cancellations and 148 delays throughout the day.
Passengers scheduled to fly through Seattle should prepare for long wait times and potential disruptions impacting their travel plans.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has logged an alarming 345 delays and 65 cancellations, making it the airport with the highest number of delays.
With such high volumes of cancellations and delays, passengers traveling through Dallas are advised to plan accordingly.
Portland International Airport (PDX) is also facing significant issues, with 31 cancellations and 57 delays reported.
The situation in Portland is expected to worsen if delays continue unabated.
Other notable airports impacted include Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), with 17 cancellations and 162 delays, as well as San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which has experienced 14 cancellations and 187 delays.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is also reporting 18 cancellations alongside 156 delays; the delays at San Diego International Airport (SAN) amount to 16 cancellations and 112 delays.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) has 5 cancellations and 129 delays, while Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) has registered 8 cancellations and an impressive 233 delays.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) has reported 10 cancellations and 159 delays, while Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) experiences 7 cancellations and 294 delays.
Finally, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) has noted 6 cancellations and 103 delays as well.
**Cities and Countries Affected by Flight Delays and Cancellations**
In addition to the major airports reporting disruptions, numerous cities, and even some international locations, are seeing notable impacts from travel disruptions.
Cities like Dallas, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago are grappling with high volumes of cancellations and delays that are affecting their airports.
Travelers with international connections should also prepare for extended waiting times and potential missed connections when traveling to or from these airports.
**Airlines Affected by the Disruptions**
A multitude of U.S. airlines are feeling the pressure of the ongoing delays and cancellations, including major carriers like Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.
These airlines are facing considerable disruptions at numerous airports, including Seattle-Tacoma (SEA), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), and Los Angeles International (LAX).
Regional airlines such as Envoy Air, Horizon Air, SkyWest Airlines, Endeavor Air, and PSA Airlines are also affected, contributing to the overall disruption of air travel.
Low-cost carriers like Frontier Airlines and Alaska’s Horizon Air are experiencing significant cancellations and delays at major hubs, exacerbating the situation for travelers.
Passengers flying with these airlines are encouraged to check for updates regularly, as many airlines are working to provide rebooking options and may offer meal vouchers or alternative flight routes in response to the widespread disruptions.
However, given the large volume of affected flights, rebooking may take longer than usual, and travelers should exercise patience when contacting their airlines for assistance.
**What Affected Passengers Can Do Now**
In light of the extensive disruptions, passengers are recommended to take several proactive steps to minimize the impact of delays and cancellations on their journeys.
1. **Check Flight Status Regularly**: Travelers should keep themselves updated on their flight status by checking directly with their airline or utilizing the airport’s flight tracking tools.
2. **Prepare for Longer Wait Times**: Travelers must anticipate longer wait periods at busy hubs such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Seattle-Tacoma, and Portland International. Bringing along necessary supplies such as snacks, chargers, and entertainment can help make intense waiting times more manageable.
3. **Consider Rebooking or Alternative Routes**: Passengers should look into the possibility of rebooking to earlier flights or alternative travel routes, especially considering the scale of disruptions. It’s advisable to rebook as early as possible to secure a seat on a later flight.
4. **Stay in Contact with Airlines**: Airlines often provide updates via text and email notifications, so it is critical for travelers to keep their phones charged and check for ongoing communications from their airline.
In certain cases, airlines may offer vouchers, meals, or accommodations if delays exceed a specific duration.
**Key Takeaways**
Today’s travel disruptions are unprecedented, with numerous delays and hundreds of cancellations sweeping through airports nationwide.
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) ranks as the airport with the highest number of delays, while Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) is reporting the most cancellations.
Passengers traveling through significant airports like LAX, ORD, and MIA should prepare for potential delays and take appropriate steps to monitor flight statuses, rebook, and stay updated about the situation as it unfolds.
Given the extensive impact on air travel today, passengers are strongly advised to act swiftly, remain informed, and plan for additional delays in the days ahead.
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