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More than 1,400 flights canceled because of East Coast weather

The FAA said storms also could cause delays at major airports from Florida to Boston.
 
More than 1,100 flights were canceled on Friday because of heavy weather in the East Coast, another in a series of delays and cancellations.
More than 1,100 flights were canceled on Friday because of heavy weather in the East Coast, another in a series of delays and cancellations. [ CHARLIE NEIBERGALL | AP ]
Published Aug. 5, 2022|Updated Aug. 6, 2022

NEW YORK — Tens of thousands of flyers had their travel plans upended heading into the weekend after airlines canceled about 1,400 U.S. flights as thunderstorms hit the East Coast.

Another 6,300 flights had been delayed by Friday night, according to tracking service FlightAware.

It was the second straight day of major disruptions and the worst day for cancellations since mid-June.

Tampa International Airport only saw slight disruptions. Out of the airport’s 433 total departures and arrivals, 73 were delayed, or about 17%, and 9 were canceled.

“The delays are slightly higher than normal but it is always normal to have delays,” said Emily Nipps, the director of communications for Tampa International Airport. “Nine canceled flights is a little high.”

Nipps said she couldn’t say how many were related to the storms.

The three major airports in the New York City area and Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C., recorded the most cancellations.

American Airlines scrubbed about 250 flights, or 7% of its schedule. Republic Airways, which operates smaller planes for American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express, canceled a similar number, about 25% of its flights.

Thunderstorms were stopping or delaying early-evening flights in New York, Boston, the Washington, D.C., area, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Denver, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

About 1,200 U.S. flights were canceled Thursday, 4.6% of all those scheduled.

Travelers have been hit with widespread cancellations and delays this summer. Travel bounced back faster than expected — to about 88% of pre-pandemic levels in July — and airlines weren’t able to increase staffing fast enough. They have been cutting back on schedules in an attempt to make remaining flights more reliable.

Airlines flying in the U.S. had a bad June, canceling more than 21,000 flights or 2.7%, up from 1.8% in June 2019, before airlines pushed workers to quit during the pandemic. The airlines did better in July, however, canceling about 14,000 flights, or 1.8%.

Delays have been more persistent — above 23% in both June and July.

Times Staff Writer Olivia George contributed to this story.