Good Question: How Do Airlines Catch Up?
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- On Monday night, Delta said it operated just over half of its 6,000 scheduled flights, which left tens of thousands of customers dealing with cancelled or delayed trips. The airline said a power outage forced the airline to ground all flights Monday morning.
So, Chad from Buffalo asked: How do airlines catch up? Good Question.
"There are a number of things that airlines can do," Ken Jenkins, an aviation crisis consultant, said.
First, he said some airlines can transfer passengers to their partner carriers. Others might book some passengers on a competitor's flight.
Jenkins said each airline has a unique contingency plan for when there are significant problems with flights. Unlike weather delays, though, system-wide problems can be more of a challenge.
"I would think by the end of the week everything should be back to normal," he said. "You'll have pockets usually at their largest hubs where they'll see the longest delays at this point."
Airlines can also substitute smaller aircraft with larger aircraft to move more people to their destinations. This could include using planes that might be out for light maintenance or cleaning.
Another possibility would be to add flights, if the planes and the crews are available. Jenkins said airlines often have reserve crews on standby in case someone is sick or incapacitated.
"You have to say, 'I have 2000 people to move, I need to get 2000 seats into that city, what's the best way to do that,'" he said. "Each airline has its own recipe or mix to be successful."
