You’re grounded: How airlines make those tough calls
With a big snowstorm forecast to hit the Northeastern Seaboard, airlines began canceling flights scheduled for early this week before snowflakes began to fall.
But deciding how and when to cancel such flights can be tricky.
If airlines cancel too early, they may find themselves stuck on the ground while competitors continue to fly, says Darryl Jenkins, chairman of the American Aviation Institute. But if companies wait too long, they may have to divert planes, stranding passengers, crew and equipment in random cities, says Bob Mann, president of airline consulting firm R.W. Mann & Company.
Diversions can be costly for airlines because it can take longer for an airline to return to its regular schedule than it would if flights were canceled and passengers were re-booked on later flights.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
