Thousands of holiday travelers faced significant disruptions on Tuesday as American Airlines temporarily halted all flights across the United States due to a technical issue compounded by adverse weather conditions. The worst of the chaos unfolded at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, the airline’s largest hub and one of the busiest in the nation.
The trouble began early Tuesday morning when malfunctioning systems critical for releasing flights were reported. American Airlines attributed this to a vendor technology issue. Just as the situation was beginning to be resolved, a series of storms rolled into the Dallas area, bringing heavy rains and a flood warning, which led to further delays for hundreds of flights.
By Tuesday evening, only 15 percent of American Airlines flights at Dallas Fort Worth managed to take off on time, as reported by Cirium, an aviation data analytics firm. Earlier in the day, the airline also implemented a ground stop for incoming flights to the airport, which lasted over four hours until approximately 8:30 p.m.
Despite these challenges, it’s important to remember that airlines and airports are constantly working to improve systems and processes to better handle such crises. As the holiday season continues, travelers are encouraged to stay updated on their flight statuses and to remain flexible with their plans. Efforts from airline staff and crews to assist passengers during these delays highlight the dedication to customer service, even in trying times.