Suppose, you woke up early in the morning, took a cab, and reached the airport. Then what you found out was that your flight got canceled. How frustrating and annoying it could be when you struggle to catch a flight but get to know that it is called off. The reason for flight cancellation can be anything. However, it is among the worst things that can happen to any traveler.
According to the data released by the Department of Transportation in 2022, the overall cancellation rate in the US has been around 2% every year. Though it happens only once in a while, this scenario can force you to change your plans.
Have you ever wondered why your flight got canceled?
There are several reasons for cancellation of flight. In this article, we have curated the 7 most common reasons for flight cancellations. You can go through these reasons and plan your itinerary accordingly.
Bad Weather
One of the most common reasons for flight cancellations is unpredictable weather. Everything’s fine when you take off. It’s sunny and bright outside. But suddenly, you see thunderstorms, rains, strong winds, and lightning. In this situation, the flights always remain grounded. The aircraft can not function properly in such weather conditions that’s why pilots either do an emergency landing if they have already taken off. Otherwise, the air traffic controllers suggest canceling the flight.
Thus, it’s recommended to check the weather conditions and report before heading to the airport. Also, check with your flight booking agency or airline’s customer service about the flight status.
Mechanical Issues
Mechanical issues consist of a lot of problems. Anything that is not synced with the aircraft is considered a mechanical issue. Though aircraft are huge and rough that can bear harsh conditions, these are machines only that are sensitive to extreme conditions they encounter in the air. When it comes to flying, every part of the aircraft should work perfectly. Otherwise, it may cause safety problems.
If the crew witnesses any issue, either small or big, they cancel or postpone the flight until the issue is resolved. For the safety of the passengers, they either shift them to a different aircraft or provide a refund.
Staffing Issues
Another reason for flight cancellation is the short-staff crew. It’s not common, but sometimes airlines also face the issue of crew shortage like any other organization. From pilots and flight attendants to ground crew, and maintenance staff, a flight operation depends on many personnel. If enough crew is not present, it results in flight cancellation. The reason for staff shortage could be anything such as most of the crew members falling sick and there being no replacement for them or they are going on strike etc. In such cases, if you have taken a first-class ticket to India, you can speak to the airport staff or airline staff to get you to another flight.
Security Concerns
Security is also one of the major reasons for flight cancellations. Airlines and airports take this factor very seriously. From entering the airport to the security check-in process and immigration, everything gets done systematically under all the security norms. Thus, when it comes to the security and safety of passengers, if the staff feels anything suspicious, it leads to flight cancellation.
Administrative Issues
Many administrative issues may cause the cancellation of flights such as overbooking or scheduling, etc. When airlines allow many passengers to book a flight and it gets overbooked, in such situations, the airlines cancel the flights of some passengers. However, they make sure to provide them with a ticket to another flight as per the feasibility of the passengers.
Lack of Passengers
If the reasons for flight cancellation are concerned, lack of enough passengers may also cause the same. Flight travel is expensive, not only for the passengers but also for the owners. Apart from the fuel and maintenance charges, flights also ask for several other charges to make the business profitable. In case there are only a few passengers for a particular route and the flight might face loss due to that journey, then they cancel the flight. Thus, you are suggested to go to the best site to book flight tickets so that they can tell you which flight is suitable for which route to avoid such situations.
Pandemic
Last but not least, the pandemic is also one of the reasons for flight cancellations. It is not a common reason. However, due to the recent circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is also considered one of the major ones. In the past 3 years, we have seen many flight cancellations due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Even after that, when the epidemic was controlled, the fight operations were not allowed. One of the main sectors that got affected by the pandemic was the aviation industry. It took a long time for the industry and flight booking sites to overcome the situation. Thus, for international safety concerns, flights get canceled in case of any pandemic.
These are some major reasons for flight cancellations. You are suggested to go through every reason and plan your itinerary accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are my actions if the flight is canceled?
Answer: If your flight is canceled, you can connect with the airline’s customer care department and ask for the reason and solution. You can ask them for the replacement of flight tickets, complimentary food and drinks at the airport, and more along with the compensation.
- When do I receive compensation for a canceled flight?
Answer: The flights are required to inform the passengers about the flight cancellation at least 14 days before. You can get the compensation in the source account of the transaction.
- What is the biggest reason for flight cancellations?
Answer: One of the biggest and most common reasons for flight cancellations is bad weather. Other than this the reasons can be a lack of staff, security problems, mechanical, staffing issues, etc.
- How do I find out the reason for flight cancellation?
Answer: You can either call the airline’s customer service or your travel agency to ask them the reason for the flight cancellation.
- What happens when an airline cancels a flight?
Answer: When an airline gets canceled, the authorities either arrange another flight for the passengers. Otherwise, offer them a full refund.
