More MD-80 Cancellations: Midwest, American Planes Grounded
FAA predicts more problems this summer
We warned you yesterday; those MD-80s aren't going to fly. In addition to a whopping 900 American Airlines flights grounded today, Midwest Airlines has grounded an additional 13 airplanes.
Waiting for a flightThat's only 10 Midwest flights cancelled so far today, but
since 13 planes are down, there will be more. Alaska Airlines joined the fray, cancelling 14
flights on 9 MD-80s yesterday. It's still only a drop in the bucket compared to
all the AA cancellations (over 2400 flights this week - who knows how many more are
coming).
According to AP, the jets that the FAA is investigating may violate safety regulations.
With so many flights out of the air, airlines simply cannot find planes for stranded passengers to fly on. I'm sure the other airlines planes are packed full, as smart fliers switch carriers. However, with the current situation, there simply aren't enough planes left to go around.
Fliers are stuck trying to find ground-based ways to travel, begging for refunds and cancelling plans. If you're flying anytime soon, check your flight status online early and often. It won't keep you on schedule, but at least you'll be prepared for frustration.
Extreme delays could turn into a regular part of flying - Department of Transportation Representative John Mica told USA Today that "If anybody thinks we're going to get resolution of flight delays, they are smoking the funny weed."
I guess it's time to start packing a week's worth of clothes for the airport.
For updates as the story breaks, visit one of these accredited news sites:
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