Flight Troubles on Christmas Day
After a chaotic holiday season in 2022, where thousands of U.S. flights were canceled or delayed, most holiday travelers this year are off to a much better start this Christmas. However, there are still a few trouble spots emerging on Christmas Day.
According to tracking service FlightAware, as of 11 a.m. Eastern Time, approximately 130 flights to, from, or within the U.S. have been canceled, while just over 1,000 flights have been delayed.
So far this year, airlines have only canceled 1.2% of U.S. flights, the lowest rate in five years. The number of passengers expected to pass through domestic airports during the busy holiday period has also increased by 16% compared to 2022, with nearly 3 million passengers.
Southwest Airlines Experiences Disruptions
Not everyone has been so lucky. Passengers at Chicago's Midway International Airport have been left stranded on Christmas Eve, according to CBS News Chicago. Southwest Airlines, the carrier that experienced the most disruptions during last year's holiday period, is once again facing problems. Southwest has attributed the delays to foggy weather in Chicago, but passengers have also reported a shortage of workers as a contributing factor.
The flight troubles have also affected passengers at Denver International Airport. FlightAware data shows that Southwest canceled 293 flights on Sunday, with nearly 1,300 trips being delayed.
"Due to heavy fog in Chicago, Southwest Airlines had to suspend operations last night and this morning," said a spokesperson for the airline. The fog resulted in the cancellation of 101 flights, which accounts for 2% of the daily trips, and 397 flights were delayed. In comparison, Delta and United Airlines only canceled five flights.
One frustrated passenger took to Twitter to express their disappointment, stating, "[Y]ou guys ruined my Christmas two years in a row."
Meanwhile, a winter storm in the Northern Plains caused snowfall and hazardous road conditions in areas stretching from northern Kansas through Nebraska, the Dakotas, and parts of Minnesota.
Earlier this month, Southwest Airlines reached a $140 million settlement with the federal government for the chaos that occurred last year, leaving over 2 million travelers stranded during the holiday season. The airline has already agreed to pay over $600 million in refunds and reimbursements to customers.
"This serves as a message to the entire airline industry: They have a responsibility to take care of passengers, and if they fail to do so, we will hold them accountable," tweeted Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Dec. 18.
