El Paso airport departures delayed following FAA computer outage
A computer glitch at the Federal Aviation Administration delayed airline traffic at the El Paso International Airport early Wednesday.
According to flightaware.com, a flight tracking platform, there were 36 delays and nine cancellations at the El Paso airport. Southwest canceled seven flights and Envoy Air canceled two flights.
Southwest had 22 flight delays, American Airlines had eight, Envoy Air and SkyWest had two each, and Delta and Alaska Airlines had one each.
The site also states there were 29 delays, into or out of the United States, Tuesday but only one cancellation.
Around the country, more than 6,400 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. were delayed, according to FlightAware, and more than 1,000 flights were canceled. With 19,621 domestic flights scheduled on Monday, according to Cirium data, those numbers are almost certain to rise as airlines recover their operations.
On social media various airline carriers posted responses to the FAA computer glitch.
On its Facebook page, Southwest posted it would message the "day of travel" contact listed in the reservation for any substantial flight status changes. On its Twitter account, Delta stated Wednesday, "We remain connected with the FAA as we work to mitigate the impact of the ground stop the agency implemented earlier today. A fare difference waiver will give customers additional flexibility even if their flight isn’t delayed or canceled."
Ted Cruz: The flying public deserves safety in the sky
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), incoming ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued a statement today in response to the FAA's system outage.
"The flying public deserves safety in the sky. The FAA's inability to keep an important safety system up and running is completely unacceptable and just the latest example of dysfunction within the Department of Transportation. The administration needs to explain to Congress what happened, and Congress should enact reforms in this year's FAA reauthorization legislation. This incident also highlights why the public needs a competent, proven leader with substantive aviation experience leading the FAA."
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What you're entitled to if your flight is canceled or delayed
Cancelations: Airlines are required by the Department of Transportation to offer a refund when they cancel a flight. It doesn't matter if the reason for the cancellation was outside their control, like weather, or within their control, like maintenance issues or flight crew shortages. And it doesn't matter what ticket you bought, including nonrefundable or basic economy tickets.
Delays: In the event of a delay, policies vary by airline, but you may be entitled to compensation based on the length of your wait and other factors. Airlines prefer to automatically rebook you on their next available flight, but you are under no obligation to take it. Remember, though, that a refund a) might not be instant and b) probably won't cover the cost of a new last-minute ticket unless your original ticket was pricey. In many cases, the next-available flight might be the least-expensive option for getting to your destination or back home when things go awry last minute.
Refunds: If you opt for a refund, you are eligible to get your money back, not just a travel credit or voucher. Airlines are quick to offer credits and vouchers first, so travelers who want their money back instead often have to take some extra steps. Southwest and Delta, for example, automatically issue travel credit, so travelers who want their money back have to request it.
For more information: Airline Customer Service Dashboard | US Department of Transportation
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150, mcortes@elpasotimes.com and @EPTMaria on Twitter. USA Today contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso International Airport affected by FAA computer outage
