WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines temporarily halted flights across the country on Tuesday due to a technical complication just as the holiday travel season ramps up, with winter weather posing additional risks for those intending to fly or drive.
Flights were authorized to resume by federal authorities about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop order.
Early in the day, there were 1,447 delays for flights arriving or departing from the U.S., along with 28 cancellations. Snow was falling in New York, and Dallas-Fort Worth International, the primary hub for American Airlines, was experiencing rain.
Dallas-Fort Worth experienced the highest number of delays, followed by Charlotte, North Carolina; Washington; New York; Chicago; and Miami.
With the holiday travel period extending over several weeks, airports and airlines generally encounter smaller peak days compared to the Thanksgiving rush, but the stress of consecutive hectic days takes a toll on flight personnel. Moreover, any disruptions—such as a winter storm or a system failure—can escalate into significant disturbances.
This is how Southwest Airlines left 2 million passengers stranded in December 2022, while Delta Air Lines faced a less extensive but still notable breakdown after a global technology failure in July triggered by a flawed software update from cybersecurity provider CrowdStrike.
Many flights during the holiday season are fully booked, making cancellations even more disruptive than during quieter times. This is particularly true for smaller budget airlines that offer a limited number of flights and options for rebooking travelers. Only the largest carriers, including American, Delta, and United, maintain “interline agreements,” allowing them to place stranded customers on flights operated by other airlines.
This will be the first holiday season since the implementation of a Transportation Department regulation mandating airlines to provide customers with an automatic cash refund for canceled or significantly delayed flights. While most air travelers were already entitled to refunds, they often had to formally request them.
Passengers can still request to be rebooked, which typically proves to be a more favorable option than a refund during busy travel periods. This is because locating a last-minute flight with another airline tends to be quite costly.
Just prior to 7 a.m. Eastern time, the Federal Aviation Administration directed all American Airlines flights in the U.S. to be grounded at the request of the airline. American reported a technical issue affecting its entire system while millions were traveling for the holidays.
American indicated in an email that Tuesday morning’s problem resulted from a vendor technology issue that “impacted systems required to release flights.”
The ground delays could not have come at a more inopportune moment for the millions of travelers anticipated to fly over the ensuing 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration projects screening 40 million passengers during the holidays and through January 2.
Airlines predict their busiest days will be Friday and Sunday, as well as on December 26, December 27, and December 29.
Many flights during the holidays reach full capacity, making cancellations more disruptive than during less hectic times. Even short interruptions can create a domino effect that may take days to resolve.
Approximately 90% of Americans traveling long distances during the holidays will be using cars, according to AAA.
“Airline travel is exceptionally high at the moment, but the majority of people drive to their destinations, and this is true for every holiday,” said AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz.
Gas prices remain similar to those of last year. The national average on Thursday was $3.04 per gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle costs just under 35 cents per kilowatt hour on average, although this varies by state.
According to transportation analytics firm INRIX, travel durations on the country’s highways could be as much as 30% longer than usual during the holidays, with Sunday expected to experience the heaviest congestion. Boston, New York City, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., are anticipated to be the urban areas facing the most significant delays, according to the company.
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