7 Reasons Why your Flight could be Delayed
In my day-to-day work as a data analyst in the aviation sector, some of the things I have come to understand are the reasons for flight delays that might ultimately lead to flight cancellations in some cases.
Dear Customer,
We are sorry to inform you that your Flight 600 from Paris to London is delayed due to ………
I am sure that at one point or the other we might have gotten a similar delay notification to the one above. Delays impact customers’ loyalty to an airline. Every airline promises to their customers, is to get them safely to their destinations on time with no delays! It is their number one marketing tool to their customers. According to the 2021 Cirium On-Time Performance (OTP) Review, Delta Airlines was ranked 1st as the best performing airline in terms of its operational excellence and effective management of flight disruptions with 87.80% On-Time Performance.
However, some factors are beyond the control of airlines that could impact its operational activities and consequently lead to delays. Some of which are;
1. Air Traffic Control (ATC) Restrictions
Congestion on the ground and air is one of the reasons flights are delayed. When you examine the traffic for international airport hubs such as Heathrow airport, Hartsfield-Jackson, Dubai airport etc., late pushback from a scheduled flight could impact on the departure and arrivals of other flights. Flights that are scheduled to arrive at the same gate occupied by the late departed flight might be asked to “go around” which puts the flight in a holding pattern around the airport. In some smaller airports, some of these constraints can be as a result of the airport infrastructure which could lead to delays.
2. Late Arrival of Operating Aircraft
This is one of the most common reasons for flight delays. A late arrival from an inbound flights from the previous route usually creates a ripple effect that affects the next flight. Airlines try all possible solutions to ensure the knock-off effect does not affect the remaining route for the rest of the day. So if an aircraft arrived late into the airport, the probabilty that your flight will depart on time is very unlikey.
3. Weather
Delays due to weather are usually tagged as “uncontrollable delays” by airlines, and as winter approaches, weather delays become more frequent. However, the rate of weather delays is not as high as you might have imagined when compared to the number of times it was reported. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, about 26.6% of delays were as a result of bad weather in 2021. Although, extreme weather conditions such as hurricane, heavy storm, tornadoes etc, are known to cause delays or cancellations in most cases.
4. Mechanical/Technical Issues
While many mechanical issues can be predicted (scheduled maintenance), unfortunately, some are unforeseeable (non-scheduled maintenance). Pilots could notice an indication on their dashboard during preflight checks procedures that will require the maintenance crew to resolve. All airlines prioritize the safety of their passengers over on-time performance. So a delay might be inevitable if a mechanical or technical issue is discovered. For airlines with many fleets, another aircraft could be use to salvage the situation while in some other cases the flight will be delayed.
5. Bird Strikes
During takeoff or landing or at any point in time, birds or any alien objects could collide with an aircraft which consequently results in delays. The mandatory safety protocol requires that aircrafts are thoroughly checked after a bird strike. As a result, your flight might be delayed.
6. Cleaning and Preparation of Aircraft
This delay is within the control of the airline, but there are series of activities that take place on an aircraft in preparation for departure to another destination. One of the activities is refuelling, and fuelers being late is another issue that affects how fast the aircraft can be turned around for the next route. Also, when caterers cannot find your parking spot on time, that is definitely going to be a problem for the ground operation team. Additionaly, airlines cherished their cabin appearances a lot, and the process of cleaning and preparing the aircraft takes a lot of time, especially for an aircraft that arrived late to the airport.
7. Strikes
Strikes are a general issue that cut across all sectors. Airports and airline workers are professionals that have the authority to demand for their fundamental rights. A typical case was the 2019 strike by British pilots. The Telegraph reported that “British Airways passengers were told to avoid traveling as pilots began 48-hour strike”. Although, this is not a common reason for delays, but it impacts on an airline’s on-time performance which could result in delays and total cancellations of flights until the union demands are met.
Please note that you are entitled to compensation depending on the hours your flight was delayed and fare rules on your ticket. Also, all airlines have a disruption policy that will cater to your needs depending on the reasons for flight delays.
Thank you for reading.
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References
- Gareth Davies (2019): British Airways passengers told to avoid travelling as 48-hour pilot strike begins. The Telegraph.
- Claim Compass (2020): Why is My Flight Delayed? The 20 Main Reasons for Flight Delays. Claim Compass.
