Latest news with #airportdelays
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
Long lines plague Southwest Airlines at St. Louis Airport
ST. LOUIS – Southwest Airlines passengers at St. Louis Lambert International Airport faced unusually long lines Sunday morning, as large crowds – many from a major convention – created delays at check-in and baggage drop-off. Travelers took to social media to express their frustration, sharing photos of the long lines and crowded conditions at the airport. Some reported waiting up to three hours in line, with a few missing flights despite arriving early. Others said they had to reschedule due to canceled or delayed flights, with Southwest allegedly considering these 'no shows.' That means only vouchers, no refunds, leaving one passenger out around $12,000. A mission group traveling with children and seniors said the long wait in the heat was challenging, especially with limited access to water or vending machines. Airport police temporarily held entry doors closed to help manage crowd flow. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The Seventh-Day Adventist convention also wrapped up this weekend. There were around 50,000 people in attendance, and many of them flew to St. Louis. Southwest later said wait times had improved and encouraged travelers to use their app for real-time updates. While the morning was hectic, operations appeared to stabilize by the afternoon. Lambert International released this statement Sunday night: 'This morning, St. Louis Lambert International Airport experienced a high volume of departing passengers. Much of this was due to the large number of delegates going home from the Seventh-day Adventists' General Conference. We understand many of the delegates arrived at the airport early for flights scheduled later in the day. The situation was exacerbated by most passengers needing to check bags and few of these passengers being a member of a program designed to expedite airport security, such as TSA Pre-check or CLEAR. This led to the airport ticket counters and TSA security lines being overwhelmed. St. Louis Lambert International Airport apologizes for any delay experienced today.' For the latest on flight delay information, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Herald
02-07-2025
- The Herald
Security changes at OR Tambo International Airport, passengers urged to arrive earlier
Changes have been implemented at security checkpoints at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport which caused long queues on Tuesday. The Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) confirmed "operational disruptions" and said it was working to restore normal service levels. In an update late on Tuesday afternoon, Acsa said: "Domestic operations have largely stabilised, while an incoming shift has been deployed to bolster capacity and assist international travellers. We anticipate full operational capacity will be restored by Wednesday morning. "Travellers are advised to arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure for domestic flights and three hours for international flights to allow adequate time for processing. " We encourage all passengers to proceed to the security screening areas immediately after check-in to avoid delays." Acsa, which did not explain what changes have been implemented, said it did not affect other airports. TimesLIVE
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
Why this U.S. airport was ranked the worst in the world for international airports - avoid any layover there!
If you've traveled through Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), you probably don't need a study to tell you it's not the smoothest place to transit through. But just in case you needed the data to back up the feeling, several recent reports confirm it: Newark is one of the worst-ranked airports in the United States. Between chronic delays, an outdated layout, and a frustrating passenger experience that even a billion-dollar renovation hasn't fully resolved, it's no surprise that EWR consistently appears near the bottom of travel satisfaction surveys. If you're planning a trip and have a choice of where to connect, there are plenty of reasons to steer clear of Newark. According to an August 2024 study by Whitley Law Firm, Newark Liberty ranked as the third-worst airport in the United States. The study analyzed Google reviews and factored in key traveler pain points such as flight delays, cancellations, and service satisfaction. Only Aspen/Pitkin County Airport in Colorado and Santa Fe Municipal Airport in New Mexico ranked worse, but those are much smaller regional airports. Newark, on the other hand, is a major hub serving millions of passengers annually, which makes its low ranking far more concerning. Frequent flyers know that even short delays in a congested airport can have a ripple effect, especially if you're connecting to another flight. In The New York Times' May 2025 coverage of Newark's challenges, passengers cited outdated systems, lack of clear communication during emergencies, and poorly handled disruptions. The article spotlighted how recent security scares and weather events were compounded by the airport's inability to respond quickly or clearly, leaving travelers confused and stuck. Newark's history of delays is well documented. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the airport consistently ranks near the bottom for on-time performance among major U.S. airports. There are several reasons for this. Newark is located in one of the most congested airspaces in the country. With LaGuardia and JFK nearby, air traffic controllers have to manage an overwhelming number of incoming and outgoing flights in a tight geographic area. A little fog or wind? Expect delays. What makes things worse is that these delays often aren't communicated clearly to passengers. Flights get pushed back by 20 minutes, then 40, then an hour, with little explanation or useful updates. If you have a tight connection, there's a real risk you'll miss your next flight. One of the most frustrating aspects of Newark Liberty is its terminal layout. The airport is divided into Terminals A, B, and C. There is no simple or efficient way to move between them if you're already inside security, and many travelers don't realize this until it's too late. If your connection involves switching terminals, especially if you're flying a mix of domestic and international airlines, you may have to exit one terminal, take a shuttle or AirTrain, and then re-clear security. This eats into your connection time and adds unnecessary stress. While Terminal A recently received a $2.7 billion renovation, the upgrades don't fix the larger issues. Not all airlines have moved into the new terminal, and Terminals B and C still suffer from aging infrastructure, unclear signage, and lack of cohesion between airlines. You can't always count on a smooth transfer even within the same airline alliance. Terminal C, used mostly by United Airlines, has made efforts to improve the traveler experience with updated food options and digital ordering. But outside of that, food and drink options remain limited, especially late at night or during off-peak hours. In Terminals A and B, you may find yourself choosing between a tired fast-food counter and a convenience store with overpriced sandwiches. Not ideal when you're stuck on a layover and need a decent meal or coffee. Comfort is also an issue. Seating can be hard to find during busy times, and it's not unusual to see people sitting on the floor or standing in long lines just to charge their devices. Restrooms are often overcrowded and not as clean as you'd expect in a major international airport. In the New York Times' 2025 report, one issue stood out: lack of communication during emergency situations. Passengers shared stories of being left in the dark during terminal lockdowns, bomb scares, or severe weather events. Announcements were delayed, inconsistent, or completely missing. In an era when real-time information is critical, especially during unexpected events, this kind of communication breakdown is more than an inconvenience, it's a safety concern. If you're connecting through Newark during the winter or hurricane season, it's important to know how unprepared the airport can feel when things go wrong. Staffing challenges aren't unique to Newark, but the airport seems to struggle more than most with consistent service. TSA lines are often slow, and PreCheck lanes aren't always open. When flights are delayed or canceled, airline counters become overwhelmed quickly. Many travelers report feeling that they're on their own. There are limited help desks or clear rebooking options during disruptions, and airline staff often appear as frustrated as the passengers they're trying to help. Free Wi-Fi is available at Newark, but it's not always reliable. In some terminals, the signal is weak or inconsistent, which is frustrating when you need to rebook a flight or contact someone about your delay. Charging stations are scattered and not always functional. Unless you're in a lounge or lucky enough to find an open outlet, you might find yourself battling with others for a power source to charge your phone or laptop. If you have a choice, the answer is yes. There are better options nearby. JFK and LaGuardia have both made substantial infrastructure improvements and generally offer smoother transit experiences. Even Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), which is farther south, has a more user-friendly layout and better on-time performance than Newark. Unless your itinerary is locked in with United Airlines and Newark is unavoidable, try to route your layover through a different hub. Sometimes, a Newark layover is unavoidable. If that's the case, here are a few tips: Give yourself extra time between connecting flights, especially if you're switching terminals. Pack snacks and water in case food options are closed or limited. Download your airline's app for updates on gate changes, delays, or cancellations. Bring a portable charger, as outlets can be hard to find. Familiarize yourself with the terminal map ahead of time so you know what to expect. Use the new Terminal A if your airline supports. It's your best shot at a decent experience. Newark Liberty International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country, but its reputation continues to suffer. Despite high-profile investments and renovations, the overall passenger experience remains frustrating for many travelers. Whether it's due to constant delays, confusing layout, limited amenities, or communication issues, EWR is often more headache than hub. If you're booking travel with a layover and want to reduce stress, Newark probably shouldn't be your first choice. A little planning now can save you hours of frustration later.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Yahoo
Network outage at Pearson Airport could cause delays for passengers, airport says
Toronto's Pearson International Airport is warning that a network outage could cause delays for passengers Thursday morning. The outage is impacting some airport operations, the airport said in a post to X. Passengers may experience "longer than usual check-in times", while some flights may be impacted, the post says. The airport's website shows a few flights have been delayed as of 6:30 a.m. Thursday, but the majority of flights were still scheduled to depart on time. CBC News has reached out to Pearson International Airport for more information.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Ryanair demands urgent intervention as passengers face long delays and missed flights at major airport
Ryanair has demanded the Portuguese government 'urgently fix' staffing issues at airports across the country that have led to almost 300 passengers miss their flights. Europe's largest budget airline said the those that have managed to fly, including many travelling with young children, were being left to endure delays of up to two and a half hours. The problems are 'completely unacceptable', said Ryanair. Ongoing border control staff shortages at Faro, Lisbon, and Porto airports have been blamed for the issue, which are leading to 'excessive' queues. The carrier said that 'urgent action' is needed, especially during the peak morning period. It claims that during the two-week period from 26 May to 9 June, 270 passengers departing the affected airports missed their flights. Neal McMahon, Ryanair COO, criticised airport operator ANA Aeroportos de Portugal for the chaos. He blamed it for failing to ensure that 'adequate staff are in place to manage border control'. He added: 'This is not good enough, and the problem will only worsen as we go further into the summer season and traffic numbers increase.' Earlier this month, Portugal's minister of infrastructure, Miguel Pinto Luz, attempted to reassure tourists, promising that issues around border control would be 'resolved within two weeks', according to The Mirror. Ivaylo Danailov, CEO of airline compensation specialists SkyRefund, is warning that those caught up in the problems could be in line for some money under European Union rules. 'When severe border control delays at Portugal's major airports cause missed flights, airline passengers may be entitled to compensation or rerouting under EU Regulation 261/2004, especially if the airline could have mitigated the disruption. However, he added that it's a 'grey area'. 'Airlines are not required to pay compensation if a delay or missed flight was due to factors outside their control, such as political instability, extreme weather, or airport staff strikes (which includes border control issues not managed by the airline). 'But, if the airline could have reasonably foreseen the disruption, for example, repeated border delays and failed to act, it has been known for courts to have sometimes ruled in favour of the passenger. 'For instance, they may argue the airline should have allowed more time for security and border procedures or co-ordinated better. 'Either way passengers have a right to care and rebooking.' Vinci Airports, which operates the three airports under its ANA Aeroportos de Portugal subsidiary, has been contacted for comment. British tourists have begun using e-gates at Faro Airport after a deal was struck with the UK government. Since Brexit, Britons arriving at EU airports have generally been forced to queue for manned desks to have their passports stamped, rather than use automated gates with facial recognition technology – leading to long waits, particularly during peak periods. The Portuguese airport has started the rollout of e-gate access to British arrivals after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed an agreement with EU leaders last month. It hopes the deal will smooth over 'legal barriers to e-gates use for UK nationals', once a new stamp-free biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) launches in October.
