Flight delays are more than just an inconvenience; they can ruin travel plans while disrupting passengers’ daily lives. If you regularly travel by flying, however, you’re bound to encounter some delays.
The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) says that over 20% of all flights are delayed. In other words, one out of every five flights on average is delayed. Here are some of the most common reasons for flight delays.
#1) Inclement Weather
Not surprisingly, one of the most common reasons for flight delays is inclement weather. When the weather turns south, commercial airlines may delay flights to protect passengers from potential injury. Inclement weather can include thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards and even strong winds.
#2) Bird Strikes
Bird strikes may result in flight delays. There are roughly 13,000 bird strikes per year in the United States, most of which occur during takeoffs and landings. Commercial airlines have procedures they must follow when a bird strike occurs. In many cases, they may delay the flight while dealing with the bird strike.
#3) ATC Directives
Another common reason for flight delays is Air Traffic Control (ATC) directives. The ATC is responsible for monitoring and directing aircraft. To ensure a safe flow of aircraft traffic, it may have to delay some flights. The ATC may direct a commercial airline to delay a flight so that traffic can flow smoothly through the airport.
#4) Mechanical Issues
Mechanical issues can result in flight delays. Airplanes often require maintenance and repairs. Whether scheduled or unscheduled, this may cause a flight delay. Passengers will have to wait until the maintenance or repairs have been completed before they are allowed to board the airplane.
#5) Unavailable Gates
If there are no gates available, passengers may have to wait. Gates, of course, are terminals at airports that provide access to an airplane. Some airports are more crowded than others. They receive more traffic, resulting in crowded gates and frequent flight delays. If there’s not a gate available for an airplane, the airplane will typically have to wait on the tarmac. During this time, passengers will experience a flight delay.
#6) Security Incidents
Finally, security incidents can cause flight delays. Airports can experience security breaches that prompt officials to delay some or all of the airport’s flights for a temporary period. Security incidents aren’t necessarily intentional; they may involve a passenger accidentally accessing a restricting area. Regardless, officials may err on the side of caution by temporarily delaying flights.
