What Are the Causes of Flight Delays?

Airline passengers frequently deal with delayed flights. While inconvenient, delays are often unavoidable due to various factors that interrupt scheduled itineraries. Since 2003, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics has compiled ongoing reports on the causes of flight delays, using five broad categories established by the Air Carrier On-Time Reporting Advisory Committee to classify all occurrences.

Air Carrier Delays

Air carrier problems rank among the most common causes of flight delays. Air carrier issues accounted for 30.4% of all reported flight delays in 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Causes of delays within airlines' control include troubles with baggage handling, fueling, cleaning, general maintenance, crew problems and other similar difficulties. Such mishaps typically take place due to errors committed by airline personnel, though some problems, like unforeseen mechanical breakdowns, cannot be avoided.

Late-Arriving Aircraft Delays

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics lists late-arriving aircraft as another major delay category. Data shows that 39.4% of flight delays in 2010 occurred because of late-arriving aircraft. A ripple-effect of delays often takes place when a given aircraft arrives late from one destination and therefore takes off later than scheduled for its ensuing departure. In many cases, aircraft arrive late because of errors caused by airlines themselves. However, travelers must remember that uncontrollable factors such as extreme weather also play a big role in late arrivals.

Extreme Weather Delays

Extreme weather contributed to 4.4% of flight delays in 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Planes are designed to withstand harsh climates and usually fly at altitudes high enough to avoid choppy conditions. Even so, extreme weather can make it dangerous for planes to fly, take off and land. In some cases brief delays occur because of passing thunderstorms or hailstorms. Exceptionally severe conditions such as blizzards and hurricanes can cause more extensive delays.

National Aviation System Delays

National Aviation System delays include a wide range of factors such as airport operations, high air traffic volume and non-extreme weather conditions. Major hubs with heavy air traffic congestion often experience delays as myriad airlines attempt to utilize limited runway space and coordinate with airport tower controllers. Delays in such circumstances technically count as National Aviation System Delays. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), any nonextreme weather condition that slows down the operations of air traffic but does not prevent flying can also be grouped into this category. For instance, strong winds or thick fog would qualify for this category as non-extreme weather conditions that cause airport controllers to reduce the speed of operations as a safety measure. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that 27.5% of delays fell into the National Aviation System category in 2010.

Security Delays

Some flight delays take place due to security issues. Airport security measures have increased significantly following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Suspicious activity and unidentified objects can cause security agents to close down or evacuate entire terminals until

potential threats have been cleared. Agents may also ground flights and board aircraft to investigate security breaches. Thankfully, such cases are rare. Security delays accounted for just 0.2% of all flight delays in 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Congestion Management Rules

Recognizing the need to ease congestion on the nation's airports and highways, the federal government began requiring municipalities in 2005 to outline ways of addressing the problem. The key document in achieving that goal is the congestion management plan, which must spell out ways to reduce or curtail traffic congestion. As written, the federal law mainly affects large metropolitan areas, whose officials are directed to address local transportation problems.

Operating Framework

Passed in August 2005, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users required the inclusion of congestion management plans in metropolitan transportation processes. From the U.S. Department of Transportation's standpoint, this requirement applies to areas with 200,000 or more residents. Additionally, local transportation planners cannot proceed with projects that increase single-occupant vehicle traffic without proof that congestion management has been considered.

Goals and Objectives

Cities that implement congestion management plans are called Transportation Management Areas (TMAs). When such plans are in place, federal rules require that the final documents identify the causes of congestion and promote alternative measures to reduce it. Final documents must also show how solutions will be implemented and evaluate their effectiveness.

Core Components

Although not required, all congestion management plans should include alternative methods of reducing congestion, as well as a data collection system; criteria to identify when action is needed; and a ranking system to determine the effectiveness of particular strategies, according to USDOT. These strategies may include alternative commuting programs and growth management. Congestion-reducing projects are also considered where needed to ease potential bottlenecks at key roads and intersections.

Airport Congestion Pricing

pricing.

Interest groups representing large airlines led the opposition to congestion ticket

In July 2010, a Washington, D.C. federal appeals judge upheld congestion fees at heavily-traveled airports, "USA Today" reported. USDOT had put the rules into practice in 2008. Essentially, the measures allow airports to adjust their landing fees for different times, according to "USA Today." Under the ruling, airports can continue to charger more for traveling at peak hours in an attempt to cut down on traffic.

Benefits and Concerns

Transportation managers are vital partners in helping to develop congestion reduction strategies.

Requiring large metropolitan areas to include transportation needs in their congestion management planning processes promotes a more systematic and regional approach in solving problems. Documenting the location and extent of congestion can also help local policy makers prioritize areas for future projects. On the flipside, regular information sharing is essential to winning over the wide variety of stakeholders who may shoulder the impact of a particular project.

Delayed Flight Regulations

Flights can be delayed for a variety of reasons. Maybe an airplane breaks down, a thunderstorm halts flying or air traffic delays across the country affect the entire schedule. When your flight is delayed, you have rights that the airlines must honor. Related Searches: Flight Cheap Flights Airline Booking

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Regulations Regarding Planes on the Tarmac

In most cases, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) does not allow airplanes to stay on the tarmac with passengers for longer than three hours. The only situations in which a plane may remain on the tarmac longer than three hours are if the pilot finds a safety reason why the plane cannot deplane its passengers at the terminal, or if air traffic control believes doing so would cause greater flight delays to the overall traffic pattern. While delayed on the tarmac, lavatories must be functional, medical help must be available if needed and passengers must be fed after two hours.

Regulations Regarding Compensation for Delayed Flights

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Airlines are not required by law to compensate passengers for delayed flights or even for canceled flights. DOT regulations require compensation only for overbooked flights.

Airline Policies Regarding Delayed Flights

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Each airline has its own policy regarding how it treats passengers on delayed flights. Some airlines may provide meals or free phone calls. Some airlines will rebook delayed passengers on later flights or may endorse passengers' tickets to a new airline. The DOT has issued no regulations regarding any of these policies.

How to Track Flight Delays

You want to know whether a flight is delayed if you are picking someone or something up from the airport. Advance knowledge helps you avoid long waits. You can check the status of an airline over a working Internet connection in just a few minutes.

Instructions
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Check the flight's status directly with the airline. Airlines typically offer real-time information on their flights' status through their websites or through an automated phone service. Have information such as the departure time and the flight number ready to quickly get the status of a specific flight.

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Use a flight tracking website to track the flight (see Resources). Provide information such as the flight number and departure date to get information on a specific flight.

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Check the website of the airport where the flight is supposed to land. Airports typically offer flight statuses on their websites in real time. You need to provide specific information such as the flight number and departure or arrival date to access the information.