Airline cancelations can be the bane of a traveler’s existence. Whether it’s a missed connection, severe weather that makes flying unsafe, crew schedule disruption or any other technical issue, cancelations can wreak havoc on our plans and take the fun out of traveling.
When an airline makes a decision to cancel a flight, there are a number of factors involved in the process. The safety of the passengers, crew members, and the plane itself are of utmost priority, so they will be the primary concern when a decision is made. The weather of course plays a large role, as airlines must take into account the expected conditions of takeoff and landing, as well as the possibility of dangerous turbulence in-flight. If the airline cannot guarantee a safe operating environment, the flight will be cancelled.
Technical issues can also cause a flight to be cancelled. If the plane is experiencing an issue with the engines, an electronic or navigation system, or something else that would prevent it from being airworthy, then the airline must make the difficult decision to scrap the flight and start working towards a solution so that the plane is safe to fly as soon as possible.
Once a cancelation is made, the airline has to make quick decisions to try and help their customers get to their destination. Usually they will book passengers on the next available flight, if it’s the same flight number and not due to the same cause, or, if the cause is the same, they will try to book them on another airline. If this isn’t possible, they often cover the costs associated with an alternate means of transportation, such as a taxi or Car Rental, so that a passenger can still make their destination at an acceptable time.
If the cancelation was caused by a technical issue, then the airline must determine the root cause and put in place corrective measures to ensure that the problem does not recur. Depending on the severity, it may require the replacement of a part or a complete overhaul. The airline will then have to go through the process of finding a new part or overhaul facility, and then wait for the plane to be fixed and returned to service. This can potentially take weeks or months and will likely mean that any scheduled flights during that time are also cancelled due to the lack of a serviceable plane.
For Business Travel, or any other time sensitive schedules, this can be incredibly frustrating, as flights are generally booked weeks or months in advance. Additionally, because the airline is generally liable for the cost of accommodations and meals until the passenger reaches their destination, those costs can add up quickly. The airline could put a limit on those costs, but it would likely still be quite costly.
In today’s world, airline cancelations can be more prevalent than they were a decade ago. More people are traveling, meaning more competition for limited slots on each flight, and aircrafts are continually getting more and more overloaded with technology, making them more prone to technical issues. Additionally, with larger fleets of planes and increasingly complex operational needs, more strain is being put on the crew members, resulting in more schedule disruptions and cancelations due to insufficient crew availability.
Airline cancelations can be frustrating and inconvenient, but travelers should take comfort in the fact that making an informed decision about when to fly and picking an airline with the best safety record are very important and can significantly reduce the chances of having their flights cancelled. At the end of the day, safety should always be the top priority, and if that means that an airline must cancel a flight, then so be it.
