Thunderstorms have been causing problems for airlines since the invention of aircraft. A question that comes into passengers ‘ minds is, “ Do flights get canceled due to thunderstorms? The following article aims to answer this question in a very composed way with many details.
Air traffic gets disturbed when thunderstorms hit any route or more as only a limited number of aircraft can be accommodated in such an intense situation.
However, the latest technologies to forecast weather have made it easier for airlines to get informed on time about upcoming thunderstorms or heavy rain spells.
Although it’s not enough to depend on the weather forecast to prevent flights while thunderstorms are in place, a proper plan should be available with airlines to deal with any unexpected thunderstorms that come in the way.
Moreover, air traffic should also know measures to be taken in emergency landings. The only safer way to deal with heavy thunderstorms is to land the plane already in the air and delay or cancel all upcoming flights.
Generally, it is witnessed that many airlines do not refund passengers in case flights get canceled due to unexpected weather conditions.
This may seem very unfair to the passenger, but airlines are also helpless in such situations. At times, passengers claim that they have not seen any critical weather conditions at their place.
Then why has the Airline canceled or delayed their flight? The following article will discuss all the possible aspects and happenings due to thunderstorms.
How Thunderstorms Are Made
Thunderstorms are one of the great reasons which cause cancellations and delays in flight operations.
However, passengers are primarily concerned about their flight schedules and want airport employees to answer their queries about whether a flight gets canceled due to thunderstorms.
Thunderstorms happen mainly in spring and summer, but it does not mean that the rest of the two seasons are free from thunderstorms.
They could occur anytime during the year, so delays and cancellation of flights are obviously not the only choices airlines would like to choose from.
According to current research data, it is stated that in a day of 24 hours, around 40000 thunderstorms occur globally.
It means the flight cancellations are due to thunderstorms. Still, when thunderstorms are so high, airlines need to cope with the scenario and avoid delaying or canceling flights.
This is the recorded data stating 40040000-a-thunderstorms. However, many unknown and unpredicted storms also occur, which can be before a flight or between.
Mostly, thunderstorms are expected to occur in summers when the days are too hot. Same for spring, so it is recommended to plan flights more consciously in summer and spring rather than any other season to tove minimal effect of flight delays and cancancellationser your plans.
The chances of flight delay are scarce now due to thunderstorms as latthe latest aircraft are designed with the capacity to come over heavy rain, storms, lightning, and snow.
Flight may take place after a very short delay once the weather gets clear, in extreme cases where flight might be due to heavy traffic already accumulated in the air, already waiting for the thunder clouds to clear.
In such circumstances, new flights are not preferred to be taken off for the ease of previous planes.
How Thunderstorms Effects Flights
Generally, flights get canceled or delayed when air traffic indicates to airports about the thunderstorms or severe weather conditions that could occur on airplanes that are about to take off.
It’s the most measured and in-time decision that is being made by the airlines.
However, passengers claim such delays that the weather at their current location is perfect, and their flight gets delayed.
But significantly less do they know about thunderstorms and their impact on the plane that faces them above in the clouds.
According to one research presented by one of Virgin Australia’s meteorologists, it is said that airports hold on to all their flight operations when air traffic or weather forecast indicates that thunderstorms are at least 8 kilometers from airport premises.
However, all flights about to take off get delayed or, in the continuity of severe weather conditions, even get canceled.
Many airlines made sure they had a separate desk at the airport to deal with such uncertain circumstances. Employees are explicitly hired to inform passengers of their flight status before the flight.
They are responsible for notifying all passengers about flight delays and cancellations due to ordinary or extraordinary weather conditions.
This causes an extra cost to the airlines as, in such circumstances, many passengers need to get informed at a time. A verbal call and written email is the most authentic and fast way to inform all the concerned passengers within due time.
The Airline’s regulatory body mentions lines will not refund their passengers in extraordinary weather conditions.
While, at times, ordinary conditions do occur due to which airlines are forced to delay or cancel flights, but with compensation to all of its passengers, if the Airline fails to compensate in such circumstances, they must be penalized by the regulatory authority.
However, even if an airline misguided its passengers and canceled or delayed a flight for other reasons claiming it to be extraordinary weather conditions, then penalties are also there for airlines.
The regulatory body’s rights of passengers are protected too so that no airline can any misconduct with the respected passengers.
Now let’s talk about the planes that are on their way to destiny and face heavy thunderstorms.
What responsibility falls on airlines and their pilots at that time? Conventionally, aircraft were incapable of operating in extraordinary weather conditions appropriately due to their heavy body and less research on the design and structure of air crafts.
However, nowadays, with the latest technology and after a lot of authentic research, aircraft are researching full strength and capacity to get through any such extraordinary event that takes place while a flight is on its way to its destination.
Pilots and Co-pilots got such brilliant-pilots training to divert their track in case of emergency, and if that’s not possible, they also know how to face thunderstorms and get through planes from heavy lightning.
Of course, all of this is done under the instructions of air traffic officers who know very well about planes’ routes.
How Cancelled Flights Affect The Passengers
AirAffectnd passengers have been the victims of critical weather conditions even in today’s modern technology world.
However, many new inventions let the aircraft get through thunderstorms due to the heavy aluminum body, which holds the capacity to face severe weather when in the air.
Perhaps, the main burden falls on passengers when flights get delayed or canceled due to thunderstorms.
As per article 5 III from the aircraft regulations authority, it is mentioned that severe weather conditions such as thunderstorms are tagged as “extraordinary.”
In extraordinary situations, airlines do not possess any compensation or refund to passengers as these events are uncertain and not in the airlines’ control.
Eventually, the heavy burden of such extraordinary circumstances falls upon passengers, who missed their flight, and their schedule and plans got disturbed along with the financial loss of a non-refundable ticket.
Moreover, passengers always get concerned about one query: do flights get canceled due to thunderstorms? The answer to this is yes.
However, the flight does not only get canceled due to this one significant reason. Flights get canceled due to some common causes and due to airlines’ faults as well.
At the same time, the passenger must ask about the correct reason behind the delay or cancellation as their ticket refund depends upon the reason.
Tremendous sense does not get a refund, but common cause or airline fault should be compensated, and passengers must get a complete refund against their ticket.
How To Avoid Flight Cancellation
This seems very unusual to be asked how to avoid flight cancellation, but in the circumstances where passengers are facing too many delays due to extreme weather conditions, especially after covid-19.
It is essential to plan your flights appropriately to avoid any last-minute cancellations.
Passengers must look for airports rarely hit by unexpected or severe weather conditions.
For example, airports near coastal areas have more flight cancellations due to thunderstorms than airports in dry regions of the country.
Moreover, passengers should check the Airline’s flight schedule for the day they are to fly with that particular Airline so it can be known whether there are more or fewer flights for the day.
More flights mean more delays can occur in case of critical weather conditions.
Some researchers claim that thunderstorms usually occur in the afternoon or the second half of the day.
So it is recommended for people who want to take a flight for work purposes or urgent traveling to book a morning flight instead of an afternoon and evening flight to avoid thunderstorms.
Simultaneously, to avoid delays and be preferred by the Airline while accommodating delayed flight passengers, it is recommended to become a member of the Airline’s loyalty program. Airlines will choose you over non-loyal members when adjusting delayed flight passengers, and you may be informed before others.
Rarely is it seen that airlines do not compensate passengers for other technical issues or common reasons causing flight delays?
Airlines are constantly forced to pay passengers for the delay for any reason other than great reasons.
Cancellation is not always avoidable, so to escape the worst situation that could occur due to flight cancellation, it is always recommended to plan.
Do plan for the problem that could happen if you fail to reach the place you were supposed to; this will reduce the loss of not getting there on time and keep the situation under control.
FAQs
Q: How bad does the weather have to cancel a flight?
A: Thunderstorms fall in the category of “extraordinary” reasons which could delay or cancel the flight. If the weather is extraordinary, then the flight must be balanced.
Q: Will scattered thunderstorms delay flights?
A: Yes, they can. Short delays can occur due to scattered thunderstorms; in the worst case, long delays can also happen due to airplanes already in the air.
Q: Will storms affect my flight flying around thunderstorms?
A: No, nowadays, flights do not get affected too much if thunderstorms happen while flying because aircraft are designed in such a way that this could be handled.
Q: How bad does the weather have to delay a flight?
A: An ongoing and long-lasting thunderstorm can cause long delays in flight. Otherwise, a thunderstorm for a short time will only cause a short delay.
Q: Is it safe to fly in a thunderstorm?
A: No, it is not safe even when aircraft can get through thunderstorms. It is not recommended that airplanes take off to fly when it is known that a thunderstorm is happening.
Conclusion
In the above article, it can be seen that numerous factors have been discussed that somehow resolve the passengers’ query that flight gets canceled due to thunderstorms. Flight can face delays and cancellations to thunderstorms depending upon the frequency and heaviness of storms. Thunderstorms take place daily, which means this issue needs to be discussed and planned by airlines. Moreover, situations when passengers can get a refund or not have also been concerned with the recommendations for planning flights ahead to avoid flight cancellations and have a minimal impact on cancellations.
