Why can’t you call in another pilot?

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.

• Catering staff load the plane with the correct meals.

• Cargo and baggage are loaded.

• Passengers board.

• The crew completes their pre-flight checks.

• Ground crew push the aircraft back, and de-icing teams remove frost and ice.

• Air traffic controllers guide the aircraft to its destination, where a new set of staff are ready to welcome you.

For example, Air Canada operates over 1,600 flights per day on average!

This intricate choreography means that when a major weather event disrupts operations, chaos ensues, followed by a slow and challenging recovery.

Recovery Challenges: The Ripple Effect

When a major weather event strikes, most passengers understand delays or cancellations caused by visible conditions like snow, ice, or storms. But even after the skies clear, the aftereffects of weather disruptions can persist, primarily due to aircraft and crew being “out of sequence.”

Every flight requires both an aircraft and a crew, and neither is an unlimited resource. Scheduling these resources involves strict rules and limitations. For instance:

• In Canada, there are legal limits on how long pilots can work and mandatory minimum rest periods between shifts.

• Crew members must also remove themselves from duty if they feel fatigued or unwell.

If an aircraft is grounded due to weather, or a crew becomes unavailable because of delays, fatigue, or illness, it can disrupt an entire series of flights.

For example, imagine a crew scheduled to fly from Halifax to Toronto. Once in Toronto, they are assigned to a different aircraft to fly to Montreal, while another crew takes the Halifax-Toronto aircraft onward to Boston. If the original flight from Halifax is delayed or canceled due to weather, there’s no aircraft available for the Boston flight and no crew for the Montreal flight. This ripple effect can cascade across the network and last for days.

Reserve Resources and Constraints

Airlines do maintain reserves of both staff and aircraft to manage such disruptions, but these resources are finite. During major weather events, reserve crews and planes can quickly be exhausted. Additionally, having reserves isn’t always helpful if they aren’t in the right location—an extra crew in Toronto is of no use if they’re needed in Halifax.

Why Don’t Airlines Have More Aircraft or Crew?

A common question from frustrated passengers during delays is: “Why don’t airlines have more planes?” or “Why can’t you call in another pilot?” The answer lies in the economics of air travel.

Modern air travel is designed to be affordable, which requires airlines to operate as efficiently as possible. Airlines carefully balance customer expectations with operational costs, and the margins in the airline industry—especially in Canada—are incredibly slim. Adding more planes or crews would significantly increase costs, making tickets more expensive.

If money were no object, you could hire a private jet. While private aviation offers unparalleled service and flexibility, the cost is far beyond what most travelers can afford. For the rest of us, the tradeoff is clear: minor frustrations in exchange for safe, affordable air travel.

Final Thoughts

Recovering from major weather disruptions is a complex process involving countless moving parts. While it can be frustrating to deal with delays, understanding the intricacies of airline operations can provide some perspective. Remember, every step of the process is designed to ensure your safety while keeping air travel accessible and cost-effective.