Delta cares for customers, reduces flights in compliance with FAA directive

Delta cares for customers, reduces flights in compliance with FAA directive

Delta is complying with a directive from the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation to reduce flights at 40 major U.S. airports.

1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9

Operations update:

Delta continues to comply with the FAA Directive to reduce flying at 40 U.S. airports. All planned FAA-directed flight cancelations through Tuesday, Nov. 11 have been completed.

Given compounding constraints from additional Air Traffic Control staffing shortages and resulting delay programs, additional delays and cancelations are expected Sunday.

Including the impact of additional pressure late Saturday affecting Delta's Sunday operational start-up, there are more than 320 Delta mainline and 150 Delta Connection cancelations on Nov. 9 as of 12:00 p.m. ET, with more expected. Canceling a flight is always a last resort after all options have been exhausted.

What Delta customers should know:

• We are providing additional flexibility to our customers traveling to, from or through the impacted markets to change, cancel or refund their flights, including Delta Main Basic fares, without penalty during this travel period. See travel waiver details here.
• Visit delta.com or the Fly Delta app to check flight status or explore options.

08:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8

Operations update:

Air Traffic Control staffing limitations and thunderstorm activity Saturday afternoon drove additional constraints for Delta flying at our Atlanta hub.

As nothing is more important than safety, nearly 30 inbound flights were diverted to other airports in the U.S. Southeast.

At the same time, ATC required slowing of aircraft through the National Airspace System, which has resulted in delays and additional cancelations of Delta flights.

Second only to safety, Delta people's focus is taking care of our customers, recovering diverted flights and the safe operation of remaining flights Saturday night.

Additional flights may be canceled for Sunday as required flight crew rest time and out-of-position aircraft impact our schedule.

More than 200 Delta mainline and 180 Delta Connection cancels have occurred for Saturday's schedule with more expected out of more than 4,200 scheduled flights. This includes previously canceled flights regarding the FAA Directive in relation to the federal government shutdown.

For Sunday, already-processed cancels number more than 140 Delta and 140 Delta Connection flights out of nearly 5,200 scheduled. Additional cancels for Sunday can be expected.

Customers should use the Fly Delta app and delta.com for the latest information about their flights before heading to the airport. If a flight is cancelled, customers can be notified via email, text message and App notification which includes a rebooking to the next-best itinerary. Customers can make additional changes on the Fly Delta App and delta.com.

Customers may receive a refund if a flight is canceled and they elect not to travel.

Delta appreciates our customers' patience and understanding as Delta people focus intently on safely getting our customers to their destinations in this challenging environment.

10:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8

Delta is complying with a directive from the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation to reduce flights at 40 major U.S. airports beginning Friday, Nov 7.

• All planned FAA-directed flight cancellations through Nov. 10 have been completed.
• We are providing additional flexibility to our customers traveling to, from or through the impacted markets to change, cancel or refund their flights, including Delta Main Basic fares, without penalty during this travel period. See travel waiver details here.
• Visit delta.com or the Fly Delta app to check flight status or explore options.
• Delta expects to operate the vast majority of our flights as scheduled, including all long-haul international service, and will work to minimize customer impact while keeping safety our top priority.

We will give customers as much notice as possible about any changes to their flights and apologize for any inconvenience these adjustments may cause.

These flight reductions are in response to air traffic control staffing shortages stemming from the ongoing government shutdown and are intended to maintain safety across the national airspace system.

• Operations