Extreme heat around the nation is affecting some flights departing from airports including Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Phoenix, which have had triple-digit temperatures this week.
High temperatures reduce air density, which can mean aircraft must be lighter to get off the ground safely – especially at airports at high altitudes that already have lower air density as a result.
That affects aircraft “weight and balance” calculations. In extreme cases, some airlines may have to delay takeoffs, and offload passengers or cargo from smaller aircraft.
