- Dozens of passengers have been at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for more than 24 hours.
- The stranded flyers of the local outlet 11 Alive said their flights had been delayed or canceled multiple times.
- Delta recently announced plans to cut flights in July and August to prevent summer travel disruptions.
Dozens of Delta passengers have been stranded at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for more than 24 hours after a slew of cancellations, According to local reports.
Frustrated travelers told 11 Alive that they had changed or canceled their flights multiple times, thwarting their plans and leaving them without personal belongings in checked baggage. Their travel problems come with more than 14,000 flights in, out of, or toward the US Canceled or delayed across Friday and Saturday, with an additional 950 already excluded on Sunday, according to data from the flight tracker. Aeronautics.
Stranded customer reports also follow Delta’s recent announcement of its intention to cancel 100 rides per day in July and August To prevent travel disruptions in the summer, as the airline struggles to keep up with sharply increased demand and an ongoing labor shortage.
“A variety of factors continue to affect our operations, including challenges related to air traffic control, weather and sudden absences in some work groups,” a Delta spokesperson told Insider Saturday. “Flight cancellation is always a last resort, and we sincerely apologize to our customers for any inconvenience with their travel plans.”
Joe Reese, a disabled Army veteran of 11 Alive, said long delays prevented him from returning home from his honeymoon, putting a damper on the end of what was otherwise a blissful occasion.
“Instead of being a happy honeymoon, it became a very miserable plane ride waiting for this hell hole to finally let us leave,” Reese told 11 Alive, adding that he slept on the airport floor all night.
Others are starting to run out of essentials, like Brooke Osbourne, who told 11 Alive that she is now short on diapers and formula for her 11-month-old daughter.
““We gave her more food throughout the day and fewer bottles because all of her milk formula is in our checked bag, which is in Omaha,” Osborne said.
While all airlines have shown signs of struggle in recent months, Delta has been hit particularly hard. The carrier canceled 700 flights during the Memorial Day holiday, More than any airline. A spokesperson told Insider at the time that Delta allowed cancellations at least 24 hours before departure and found later flights for 90% of customers affected by the disruptions.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg nearly met several top airline executives Thursday to discuss industry challenges and pressure executives to find ways to improve service ahead of the July 4 holiday, Reuters reported.
“Air travelers should be able to expect reliable service as demand returns to levels not seen since before the pandemic,” Buttigieg Tweet on Friday.