More than 6,100 delays have already been reported at airports across the U.S., as the nation marks the start of one the busiest travel weekends of the year.
By the late morning, over 100 flights within, into, or out of the country had been canceled, according to the online tracker FlightAware.
Travelers took to social media to voice their frustration with Southwest Airlines and American Airlines. Southwest has seen more than 600 delays thus far.
“Never should have trusted American to get me to see my parents for Christmas. What a joke,” said @AdamCollins350.
“Of course there are delays. That’s what American does. It’s incompetence to not be ready for today,” @UfazedUCANE wrote on X.
“More than an hour of delays because of cargo door nonsense at DCA with @AmericanAir. Normally wouldn’t be that guy but staring down a missed connection, no other available flights after, and missing a rehearsal dinner because of incompetence that’s becoming more and more common from airlines,” said @GregButcher.
“How are all other airlines flights into San Diego on time this morning yet all of yours are delayed?” @JohnEary17 asked Southwest.
“Other than isolated weather-related delays in Southern California for fog and in the Northeast for rain and snow, the vast majority of the network is running smoothly,” Southwest Airlines’ Lynn Lunsford said in an email to The Independent. “You can check real-time status at fly.FAA.gov.”
American Airlines did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
While storms brought snow across the Midwest, Northeast, and Appalachians on Friday, it was not immediately clear if any other circumstances could have contributed to the holiday chaos.
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport was the most affected, as lake-effect snow continued to fall across the region. There were more than 100 delays reported at the travel hub and it reportedly issued a ground stop.
On Friday, the Chicago Department of Aviation said it was ready to serve approximately 3.66 million passengers at the city’s airports between Friday and the beginning of January.
The Monday before Christmas was expected to be O’Hare’s busiest travel day, with nearly 243,000 passengers.
“With Chicago’s airports serving as gateways for millions of travelers each holiday season, the CDA is dedicated to delivering a world-class experience for everyone passing through,” CDA Commissioner Jamie Rhee said in a statement. “Our teams at O’Hare and Midway are dedicated to ensuring holiday journeys are smooth and enjoyable, with safety and security remaining our top priority as we welcome travelers during this special time of year.”
Arizona’s Phoenix International Airport also has dozens of delays, although weather in the state has been “dry” and “tranquil,” according to forecasters.
Airports in California, Washington, Nevada, were dealing with delays.
A record number of people are taking to the skies this year, according to data from the Transportation Security Administration. Officials expect 2.9 million people to fly in or out of Florida’s Orlando International Airport during this stretch, WFTV reported.
The agency’s administrator, David Pekoske, warned Thursday that a potential government shutdown could “mean longer wait times at airports.”
Nearly 120 million people will travel over the year-end holidays, according to AAA, including a record number of air travelers.
