Current:Home > MarketsUnited Airlines passengers affected by flight havoc to receive travel vouchers -Capitatum
United Airlines passengers affected by flight havoc to receive travel vouchers
Surpassing View
Date:2025-04-06 10:17:10
United Airlines has distributed 30,000 miles to travelers whose flights were canceled or delayed due to bad weather and air traffic gridlock last week.
Customers who experienced overnight delays or never reached their destinations between June 24 and June 30 received the vouchers, a United representative told CBS MoneyWatch. The 30,000 miles are redeemable for a ticket between more than 8,000 cities in the continental U.S., according to the airline.
The travel hold-ups occurred during what United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby called one of the "most operationally challenging weeks of [his] career."
"Airlines can plan for things like hurricanes, sub-zero temperatures and snowstorms, but United has never seen an extended limited operating environment like the one we saw this past week at Newark," Kirby told employees in a July 1 email.
CEO takes off on private jet
Kirby has faced backlash for chartering a flight on his private jet last week, flying from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey to Denver, Colorado, during the travel disruptions. He later apologized for the move.
"Taking a private jet was the wrong decision because it was insensitive to our customers who were waiting to get home," Kirby said last weekend in a statement.
More than 40,000 flights arrived behind schedule between June 24 and June 30, and nearly 8,000 were canceled, according to data from flight tracker FlightAware. On Friday alone, roughly 8% of United flights were canceled and 45% were delayed, making it one of the hardest hit U.S.-based airlines.
Cancellations and delays continue to roil travelers' plans during the Fourth of July weekend, which was on track to be one of the busiest Independence Day weekends for travel in U.S. history, AAA forecasted. As of Monday morning, there were 182 flight cancellations reported in the past 24 hours at Newark Liberty International Airport, one of United Airlines' northeast travel hubs, data from FlightAware shows.
Meteorologists predict rainy weather and thunderstorms will continue to move through the New York metro area on Monday and Tuesday, which could impact more flights. However, the travel disruptions are also the result of aircraft backups at Newark airport, which reduced the number of departing aircrafts at Newark by 60%-75% for an average of 6 to 8 hours each day, Kirby said in his email.
"Severely limited" capacity
"Airlines, including United, simply aren't designed to have their largest hub have its capacity severely limited for four straight days and still operate successfully," Kirby said.
Staffing shortages at the Federal Aviation Agency, which performs air traffic control duties in the U.S., have aggravated travel disruptions, Kirby said last week.
Due to that combination of issues, United's leaders are planning to modify schedules at Newark airport.
"We are going to have to further change/reduce our schedule to give ourselves even more spare gates and buffer — especially during thunderstorm season," Kirby said in his email to employees.
United has not provided additional details about those schedule changes as of publication time.
- In:
- Travel
- AAA
- United Airlines
veryGood! (741)
Related
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Last of nearly 100 pilot whales stranded on Australia beach are euthanized after getting rescued – then re-stranded
- In a first, the U.S. picks an Indigenous artist for a solo show at the Venice Biennale
- Randy Meisner, founding member of the Eagles, dies at 77
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- 8 dogs going to Indiana K-9 facility die from extreme heat after driver’s AC unit fails
- You can finally pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and save up to $250 via trade-in
- July is set to be hottest month ever recorded, U.N. says, citing latest temperature data
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Why residuals are taking center stage in actors' strike
Ranking
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Dehydration can be exacerbated by heat waves—here's how to stay hydrated
- Peanuts for infants, poopy beaches and summer pet safety in our news roundup
- Tornado damage to Pfizer factory highlights vulnerabilities of drug supply
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Ford to recall 870,000 F-150 trucks for issues with parking brakes
- Reports: Vikings, pass rusher Danielle Hunter agree to 1-year deal worth up to $20 million
- Harry Styles Spotted With Olivia Tattoo Months After Olivia Wilde Breakup
Recommendation
House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
Shop Deals on Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Women's and Men's Wedding Guest Looks and Formal Wear
Horoscopes Today, July 28, 2023
GM, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes and Stellantis to build EV charging network
New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
Have Mercy and Check Out These 25 Surprising Secrets About Full House
Backup driver of an autonomous Uber pleads guilty to endangerment in pedestrian death
The Yellow trucking company meltdown, explained