Major airlines cancel 23 flights and delay 483 more with passengers stranded | World | News
Airlines collectively canceled 23 flights at various airports in Asia, including Shanghai Pudong and Islamabad International Airport.
Reports indicate that these delays triggered a cascade of problems, with passengers missing connecting flights and facing hours of chaos. Travel and Tour World reports overcrowded waiting areas and huge queues in Shanghai and Beijing.
This comes as Aer Lingus is expected to cancel around 500 flights due to “essential maintenance” on aircraft.
An Aer Lingus spokesperson told RSVP Live: “Aer Lingus has begun implementing its planned summer schedule. A limited number of schedule adjustments, as well as a number of recent cancellations, have been necessary due to mandatory maintenance on aircraft.”
“Where scheduling adjustments have been made, the majority of customers are re-accommodated on same-day services.”
Earlier this month, Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary warned that flights could be canceled this summer due to rising jet fuel costs.
“We’re all facing an unknown scenario. And we certainly think we’re going to have to cancel 5 per cent to 10 per cent of flights throughout May, June and July,” he told ITV News.
O’Leary said if passengers find their flights have been canceled they should “blame Trump” rather than the airline.
Air Canada is also preparing to suspend service to New York JFK International Airport over the summer as the war in Iran triggers a jet fuel shortage that is causing prices to skyrocket.
Canada’s national carrier announced Friday that flights to JFK from Toronto and Montreal will cease on June 1 and resume on October 25.
Routes serving the New York metropolitan area’s two remaining airports (LaGuardia and Newark) will continue to operate normally.
Air Canada confirmed it will contact affected customers to offer alternative travel arrangements.
“As jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict and some lower-profit routes and flights are no longer economical, we are making schedule adjustments accordingly,” a spokesperson for the Montreal-based airline said.
