For a third consecutive day, travelers across the country are facing a high number of flight delays and cancellations.
As of 4 p.m. ET Saturday, more than 3,300 US flights have been delayed and 775 US flights have been canceled, according to FlightAware, which tracks flights in real time.
Friday reported a whopping total of more than 8,940 US flight delays and 1,470 US flight cancellations, according to FlightAware. More than 1,750 US flights were also canceled on Thursday.
The thousands of flight delays and cancellations come as US airlines try to recover from severe storms that hit much of the country this week, while scrambling to accommodate the growing number of holiday travelers of summer.
Friday:Thousands of US flights canceled or delayed on Friday after one of the worst days for summer air travel yet
Across the country, Delta and American Airlines reported some of the highest numbers of cancellations Friday and Saturday morning — with their schedules reduced by 7% and 5%, respectively, for Saturday starting at 4 p.m. ET.
These figures do not include flights on their regional subsidiaries, which operate as American Eagle and Delta Connection.
“The vast majority is weather-related,” American Airlines spokesman Curtis Blessing said Friday.
This week’s numbers aren’t the first time U.S. flights have experienced thousands of delays and cancellations this year. Between Friday and Monday, the Memorial Day weekend, FlightAware reported nearly 2,800 US flight cancellations and delays for more than 20,000 US flights.
In May:Memorial Day air travelers face thousands of cancellations and delays over the holiday weekend
And the problems this weekend weren’t limited to the United States: FlightAware reported more than 12,700 delays and more than 2,400 cancellations worldwide for Saturday at 4 p.m. ET. On Friday, the site recorded more than 21,800 flight delays and nearly 3,330 cancellations worldwide.
What travelers need to know
If your flight is canceled, the US Department of Transportation asks airlines to rebook you on their next available service with space. If that doesn’t work for you, the carrier is obligated to offer you a refund, even if you purchased a non-refundable ticket.
Summer trip:What Airlines Owe You When Flights Are Cancelled, Delayed
In the event of a delay, the responsibility of an airline is a little less clear. The DOT requires compensation for “significant delays,” but has no official definition of what is considered “significant.”
Many airlines have updated their policies during the pandemic to give travelers more flexibility to rebook or change their plans. Delta Air Lines, for example, automatically books passengers whose flights have been canceled and sends them their new itineraries via email, text and the Fly Delta app. Customers are free to change their flight booked online or through Delta’s digital messaging platform if the new itinerary does not work.
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Contribute: The Associated Press
