Over the weekend, a multitude of combinations of bad weather resulted in a ground stop being issued and hundreds of delays and flight cancellations at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Many airlines that were impacted include, but are not limited to, Delta, JetBlue, WestJet and American.
John F. Kennedy International Airport is one of the busiest airports and it’s no surprise that this fiasco hit the airport’s business hard, with many delays and cancellations leaving travellers scrambling to rebook flights, attempting to reclaim their baggage and clambering to reserve airport hotel rooms. At the same time, the airport’s airtrain ended up being stalled on the railway, causing passengers to end up stranded as some, as a result, grew late to their flights, if they were not already cancelled.
John F. Kennedy International Airport wasn’t the only airport to have issues with the weather, as many other airports such as LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport were affected as well. Many aircraft passengers and airline customers were urged to stay updated with their flight status before heading to or while at their respective airports as many flights were cancelled or delayed on a dime.
The skies eventually cleared and the ground stop was lifted, but by then, many flights, routes and schedules were derailed, unaligned and off balance, with many staff and crew members working overtime and forcing aircraft staff to be reassigned and repositioned. With summer rolling in and the travel season going into effect, it becomes ever important for the aviation system to be prepared for anything that may be thrown at it.
