Flight cancellation is not an uncommon experience and if anything, the last two years showed how the global aviation industry recorded more flight cancellations than ever. When a flight gets cancelled, the first question in most people’s minds points to the cause of the cancellation. What could have led to the cancellation of a flight, thereby disrupting other people’s plans? This article seeks to address some of the most common reasons.
A Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly affected several sectors and the aviation sector was not excluded. A recent study on the impact of COVID-19 on the airport business expounds on the adverse effect of the pandemic on airlines. The crisis removed more than 5.9 billion passengers for the whole year 2020 compared to the projected baseline (pre-COVID-19 forecast for 2020), representing a decline of 62.3% of global passenger traffic. Compared to the 2019 level, the decline is recorded at 61.0%. The lasting impact of this crisis extended into 2021 and the aviation sector is yet to fully recover.
Bad Weather Conditions
Bad weather conditions are one of the most common reasons why flights get cancelled. This explains why the number of cancelled flights increases during winter. However, bad weather conditions vary and in most cases, are not enough reasons to cancel the flight. If the weather conditions are a result of more severe scenarios such as hurricanes, blizzards or tornadoes, the flight cancellation is very well justified. If there’s a storm brewing, it’s best to check your flight status to be sure whether or not it will be affected. It is also important to note that the weather condition of the landing site, and not just the departure site, is also considered.
Security
If there’s a security threat at the airport you’re travelling from, your flight might get cancelled. Security threats such as bomb blasts or terrorism or anything similar can cause a flight to be cancelled or grounded. Airlines take security threats seriously and while it might be inconvenient to have your flight cancelled, it’s for the greater good.
A Lack
Flight cancellations can occur as a result of a lack somewhere. It could be the lack of crew or pilot, usually due to overbooking or lack of capacity in staff. It could also be the lack of passengers, as it costs a lot to fly a plane that they would rather not fly if there aren’t enough people to fill up the space. Lack of aircraft or air space is also another factor. This happens when too many passengers are booked and there are no planes to service the flight or the aircraft is under maintenance.
What Are Your Rights If Your Flight Gets Cancelled
Regardless of the reason behind a flight cancellation, no one wants to experience such, especially when you’ve made concrete plans for your travels. The EU 261/2004 regulation protects passengers and allows them rights to compensation if the reason for the cancellation is within the airline’s control. Affected passengers may be entitled to compensation of €250 to €600 and also have the right to reimbursement and free food, drinks, and hotel accommodation where necessary.
