Thomas Paul's Blog

Why Flights Are Still Delayed or Canceled After the Weather Clears Major weather events can significantly disrupt flight schedules, leading to widespread delays and cancellations. But why do flights sometimes continue to be delayed or canceled even after the weather has passed? Photo by  Matthew Smith  on  Unsplash Weather disruptions are a massive challenge for airlines. Operating an airline involves meticulous planning and precise coordination of countless moving parts. The fact that airlines successfully transport so many passengers each day is a testament to human organization and teamwork. Consider all the steps involved when you fly: Staff check you in and manage your baggage. Screening officers ensure security protocols are met. Pilots and flight attendants are transported from their hotels to the airport on time. Maintenance teams prepare the aircraft for departure. Dispatchers plan the flight and arrange for fuel, while fueling personnel top up the aircraft. Cate...

If you’re a frequent traveler to Canada’s busiest airports, you’re likely familiar with a few dreaded terms:  flow ,  ground delay program (GDP) , and the worst of all,  ground stop . Photo by  Anete Lūsiņa  on  Unsplash So, what do these terms mean? While these delays can be frustrating, they exist to keep Canada’s air traffic organized and, most importantly, safe. Flow Let’s start with  flow . As the name suggests, flow is a method air traffic control (ATC) uses to manage the timing of aircraft arrivals in busy airspace. Airspace and air traffic controllers can only handle so many aircraft at a time, and these limits can vary depending on factors such as staffing levels, weather, and runway availability. To prevent too many planes from arriving simultaneously, ATC institutes flow control. Without flow, aircraft would have to hold (circle in the air) until the airspace or airport could accommodate them. Holding isn’t efficient and can be frustrating f...