Inclement Weather: More Than 70 Flights Were Cancelled At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Today

Hopefully, you are not taking a flight to or from Texas today. The US state is currently being hit by major thunderstorms that are causing significant delays. For instance, more than 70 flights have been canceled today at Austin-Bergstrom International airport (AUS) today. Let’s have a closer look at which airlines have been affected so far.

Storms in, flights out

If you are supposed to catch a flight to or from the US today, hopefully your trip does not include Texas. Indeed, the US state is currently being hit by severe thunderstorms that are causing significant disruptions at several airports.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying

Today, October 28th, the American low-cost carrier (LCC) Southwest Airlines (WN) canceled nothing less than 72 flights, 27 of which were incoming flights, whereas the rest were supposed to leave Austin. The storm that caused the massive flight cancellation hit the area around Austin-Bergstrom International at 10:40 local time. In a Tweet, the airport suggested travelers should allow plenty of time to reach the terminal on time for their flight.

Thunderstorms to hit central and south-east Texas

Although Austin-Bergstrom registered a high percentage of flight cancellations, it is not the only airport in Texas that has suffered the consequences of bad weather today.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Command Center, whose main aim is to monitor air traffic operations in the National Air Space System (NAS), today informed of a massive thunderstorm activity investing the central and south-east areas of Texas. The main airports impacted by bad weather are Dallas Forth-Worth International (DFW) and the Houston, Austin, and San Antonio areas.

The National Weather Service (NWS) also reported the risk of strong and isolated storms with heavy rains in Texas, with the entire Southwest being affected by blustery winds.

Safety first

72 flights canceled in a day is not an easy challenge for those managing an airline’s operations. However, airlines’ top priority is always safety. Therefore, when severe weather hits, planes must stay on the ground.

Besides flight disruptions, significant thunderstorms can cause airports to shut down for hours, if not whole days. Less than a month back, another US state, Florida, was hit by severe thunderstorms that even caused fatalities and entire urban areas to be destroyed by floods. Of course, the extreme weather did have a knock-on effect on flight operations in the state as well. Given the high risk, several US airlines issued storm waivers covering several consecutive days. Additionally, many carriers moved aircraft based at Florida airports to other hubs to avoid damage to their expensive assets.

Photo: Getty Images

Although a canceled flight is a prime cause of stress and frustration among flyers, it is always important to highlight how safety must always be put first by airlines and airports.