Flight delays and cancellations on Delta caused by last week’s record storms in Atlanta continued over the weekend.
According to the latest statement from the airline, operations were stabilizing as of Sunday. Flight crew availability, however, is still leading to additional cancellations and delays due to federally mandated crew rest and duty guidelines.
Operational recovery continues after week of storms: https://t.co/J4wFuqdc2G
— Delta (@Delta) April 8, 2017
“We know this is extremely frustrating for our customers and we apologize for that,” the airline said in a statement on its website. “Delta teams continue to work around the clock to fully reset our operation and keep customers informed.”
Delta has updated the travel waiver it issued last week. Customers scheduled to travel to, from or through affected airports through April 9 are entitled to a refund of the unused portion of their ticket if their flight is cancelled or delayed by 90 minutes or more. Customers may also make a one-time change without fee. The new ticket must be reissued on or before April 16 with rebooked travel to begin no later than that day.
According to CNN, the airline is expecting a “relatively normal operational day” on Monday.
The problems stem from a series of record thunderstorms that struck Delta’s Atlanta hub last Wednesday and disrupted flight operations across much of the United States.
“Wednesday’s severe weather was unprecedented for Atlanta and the specific track and intensity of weather like this is often difficult to forecast,” Delta COO Gil West said in a statement at the time. “The convective activity and storm cells, mixed with tornadic conditions, continued to hit in and around the Atlanta Airport from the early morning hours and lasted through the evening, essentially halting much of the day’s operation, prompting delays and cancellations.”
Atlanta is Delta’s largest and business hub, accommodating over 150,000 people per day and cycling 60 percent of the airline’s 1,250 aircraft fleet.
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