Why Are Flights Cancelled Today?
Live cancellation & delay causes — Wednesday, October 28
As of 2:27 PM EDT, 2 U.S. airports are reporting active delays or ground stops. Current causes include: scheduled daily closure (6:30 AM–1:15 PM local), equipment outage.
Current Causes
Operational
2 airportsLate-arriving aircraft, mechanical issues, and crew availability problems cause cancellations even when weather is clear. A single aircraft problem early in the morning can cascade into multiple cancellations throughout the day.
Reported: scheduled daily closure (6:30 AM–1:15 PM local), equipment outage
The 5 most common reasons flights get cancelled
1. Severe weather
Thunderstorms, heavy snow, dense fog, and high winds account for about 75% of flight delays over 15 minutes. When conditions are dangerous enough, the FAA issues ground stops that halt all departures to affected airports. Weather delays can cascade for hours after conditions improve because aircraft and crews are out of position.
2. Air traffic control staffing
The FAA has been dealing with a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers. When staffing drops below required levels, the FAA reduces arrival and departure rates at affected airports. This creates artificial bottlenecks that lead to delays and cancellations, even in clear weather.
3. Late-arriving aircraft
Airlines reuse the same aircraft for multiple flights throughout the day. When one flight is delayed, every subsequent flight on that aircraft is pushed back. By evening, a morning delay can cascade into cancellations because the aircraft cannot complete its remaining flights before crew duty time limits expire.
4. Mechanical issues
Aircraft are complex machines that sometimes need unscheduled maintenance. While safety-critical, mechanical delays are often the hardest to predict and can lead to multi-hour delays or outright cancellations if a replacement aircraft is not available.
5. Crew availability
Federal regulations limit how long pilots and flight attendants can work. When delays push crews past their duty time limits, flights must be cancelled even if the aircraft is available and the weather is fine. This is most common in the evening after a day of cascading delays.
Flight cancelled? Know your rights.
You are entitled to a full cash refund for any cancelled flight. Airlines must process refunds within 7 business days.
Check Delays by Airline
Frequently asked questions
Why are flights being cancelled today?
As of 2:27 PM EDT, 2 U.S. airports are reporting active delays or ground stops. Current causes include: scheduled daily closure (6:30 AM–1:15 PM local), equipment outage.
What causes most flight cancellations?
The five most common causes of flight cancellations are: (1) severe weather like thunderstorms, snow, and fog, (2) air traffic control staffing shortages, (3) mechanical problems with the aircraft, (4) crew availability issues, and (5) cascading delays from earlier disruptions. Weather alone causes about 75% of significant delays.
Will my cancelled flight be rescheduled?
Most airlines will automatically rebook you on their next available flight. If that does not work for you, you are entitled to a full cash refund under DOT rules. You do not have to accept a voucher or rebooking if you no longer wish to travel.
Am I owed compensation for a cancelled flight?
In the U.S., you are entitled to a full refund to your original payment method for any cancelled flight, regardless of the reason. Airlines must process refunds within 7 business days for credit card purchases. For EU flights (departing from or arriving in the EU on an EU carrier), you may also be owed up to 600 euros under EU261.
How long will flight delays last today?
Delay duration depends on the cause. Weather delays typically last until conditions improve, which can be hours. Ground delays and ground stops are usually re-evaluated every 1-2 hours by the FAA. Late-aircraft delays tend to cascade throughout the day, getting worse in the afternoon and evening.
FAA delay data updates every 2 minutes. Performance stats from Bureau of Transportation Statistics.