The final week of 2022 left a lasting impression on many air travelers, marked by a notorious series of disruptions. Fast forward to the conclusion of 2023, and the narrative has notably shifted toward tales of improvement, offering a stark contrast to the previous year’s holiday travel chaos.
As the days unfolded between Christmas and New Year’s, airlines demonstrated a remarkable trend of minimal flight cancellations, a significant departure from the disastrous holiday travel experiences witnessed in the prior year. FlightAware’s figures indicate that U.S. carriers canceled less than 1% of all flights during the past week. Over the period from December 20 to 26, airlines had scheduled more than 162,000 flights, with only 1,100 cancellations.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued warnings about potential ground stops on Wednesday for flights departing major East Coast airports, including Philadelphia, Boston, New York, and Washington. The caution was prompted by challenges posed by low cloud ceilings and reduced visibility, conditions affecting pilots and air traffic controllers. However, as of 3 p.m. ET, these anticipated ground stops had not materialized. FlightAware reported a total of 129 flight cancellations and 3,800 delays in the United States.
This scene sharply contrasts with Southwest Airlines’ schedule meltdown during the final 10 days of 2022, resulting in the cancellation of 16,900 flights and leaving two million passengers stranded. Despite the overall improvement, Southwest Airlines continued to experience the highest number of flight delays among U.S. carriers during this year’s holiday rush, with approximately one in four flights experiencing delays.
From December 20 to 26, Southwest delayed 27% of its schedule, equating to 8,096 flights. While cancellations were limited to 2% of Southwest flights during the same period, the airline faced additional delays affecting 985 flights on Wednesday alone.
Notably, delays reached their peak on Tuesday, with U.S. airlines experiencing delays for nearly 28% of all flights, arriving an average of 52 minutes late, as per FlightAware figures.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the distinction between delays and cancellations during a news conference last week. While Buttigieg deemed the rate of flight cancellations “healthy,” he acknowledged the need to address the issue of delays and exert pressure on airlines to improve their performance.
American Airlines provided an update on Tuesday, noting that a few of its regional flights were canceled due to weather conditions. The airline took pride in having “the fewest cancellations among major carriers this holiday period.”
In summary, the conclusion of 2023 presented a stark contrast to the previous year’s travel disruptions, with airlines showcasing a notable reduction in cancellations. However, challenges persisted, particularly for Southwest Airlines, which faced a significant number of delays despite the overall improvement in the industry’s performance. The focus on minimizing both cancellations and delays remains a key priority, as transportation officials and airlines continue to navigate the complex landscape of holiday travel.