So, why is Delta canceling flights? Staffing issues. A shortage in airline staff as well as an overtaxed air traffic control system means that when weather disrupts the air travel system, the dominoes can fall pretty quickly.
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There are several reasons why flights may be canceled, including bad weather, air traffic restrictions, lack of airplane or staff, technical problems, and low passenger numbers.
That's unless there were some kind of extraordinary circumstances which gave Delta Airlines no choice but to cancel the flight. The law accepts that airlines should only pay compensation when they are at fault — but they must still ensure passengers reach their final destination or get a full refund for the flight.
Despite an unprecedented hiring spree, Delta still regularly doesn't have enough pilots or flight attendants ready to operate all its flights when things go wrong. Throw in a bad storm during a busy travel week, and things can fall apart quickly.
This situation is caused mainly by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent slowing of hiring and training, as well as the early retirement of thousands of pilots.
If same-day Delta flights are unavailable to your destination, Delta may reroute you on another airline. Thankfully, if you have to change airlines, you won't incur any additional costs.
But just because you can't normally sue an airline if your flight was canceled, doesn't mean you don't have any rights at all. In 2011, the DOT enacted an airline passenger Bill of Rights -- a list of consumer protections regarding lost luggage, long delays, hidden fees, and getting bumped from your flight.
BTS data from July 2021 to June 2022 shows Hawaiian performed best of all U.S. airlines with just a 0.81% cancellation rate. Delta took second place again — with a cancellation rate of 1.63%. Meanwhile, merger partners JetBlue (3.81%) and Spirit Airlines (4.11%) canceled the highest percentage of all flights.
Airlines only cancel flights when they feel the REALLY need to. Sometimes that means they hold off on cancellations hoping things improve If things don't improve, you end up with last minute cancellations.
Crosswinds greater than 50-60 km/h may cause airlines to delay or cancel flights. Even lower gusts can trigger flight delays or cancellations if the runways are wet or icy, as stiff winds can reduce a plane's ability to brake on the runway.
Contrary to popular belief, airlines don't cancel flights just to save money, for instance if there aren't enough passengers to make it worth their while. But they do cancel flights to prevent even wider cancellations and delays.
“Ask the airline to put you up in a hotel or give you a hotel voucher. They might do it; they might not. It's not required by law,” Keyes said. They're less likely to do it if it's weather related, he said, than if the problem is a mechanical issue with the plane or staffing issues.
However, if your first flight is delayed for more than 3 hours, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline that caused the delay. In addition to compensation, the airline must offer you a choice between: Reimbursement of your ticket and a return flight to your departure airport if you have a connecting flight.
Customer Service And SatisfactionWhile no one loves needing to call up customer service, Delta passengers have more positive experiences than most. Delta repeatedly ranks in the top two U.S. airlines in customer service and customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power, Expedia, Forbes, and others.