Current:Home > MarketsUnited Airlines passengers affected by flight havoc to receive travel vouchers-LoTradeCoin
United Airlines passengers affected by flight havoc to receive travel vouchers
View Date:2024-12-23 16:24:18
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! (5138)
Related
- NFL MVP rankings: Does Steelers QB Russell Wilson deserve any consideration?
- All the best Toronto film festival highlights, from 'Conclave' to the Boss
- 1 Day Left! Extra 25% Off Nordstrom Clearance + Up to 74% Off Madewell, Free People, Good American & More
- What can you do when leaders are tolerant of demeaning workplace behavior? Ask HR
- Kate Spade Outlet’s Early Black Friday Sale – Get a $259 Bag for $59 & More Epic Deals Starting at $25
- Princess Charlotte Has the Best Reaction to Parents William and Kate’s Major PDA Moment
- Francine gains strength and is expected to be a hurricane when it reaches US Gulf Coast
- Feds say white supremacist leaders of 'Terrorgram' group plotted assassinations, attacks
- Minnesota man is free after 16 years in prison for murder that prosecutors say he didn’t commit
- James Earl Jones, acclaimed actor and voice of Darth Vader, dies at 93
Ranking
- New 'Yellowstone' is here: Season 5 Part 2 premiere date, time, where to watch
- 'Harry Potter' HBO TV series casting children for roles of Harry, Ron, Hermione
- Elon Musk says human could reach Mars in 4 years after uncrewed SpaceX Starship trips
- Jenna Bush Hager Says Anna Wintour Asked Her and Hoda Kotb to “Quiet Down” at U.S. Open
- Former North Carolina labor commissioner becomes hospital group’s CEO
- Americans’ inflation-adjusted incomes rebounded to pre-pandemic levels last year
- Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s son Pax has facial scars in rare red carpet appearance
- West Virginia governor to call on lawmakers to consider child care and tax proposals this month
Recommendation
-
Army veteran reunites with his K9 companion, who served with him in Afghanistan
-
Watch this mom fight back tears when she sees all of her kids finally home after 9 years
-
49ers vs. Jets Monday Night Football live updates: Odds, predictions, how to watch
-
James Earl Jones, Star Wars and The Lion King Voice Actor, Dead at 93
-
College football Week 12 expert picks for every Top 25 game include SEC showdowns
-
Kentucky bourbon icon Jimmy Russell celebrates his 70th anniversary at Wild Turkey
-
Teen Mom's Catelynn Lowell Says She's Been Blocked by Daughter Carly's Adoptive Parents
-
Man charged in random Seattle freeway shootings faces new charges nearby