Dozens of Delta passengers have been stuck at the Atlanta airport for more than a day after a number of flights were canceled.
Travelers told 11 Alive that they have had flights changed or canceled multiple times, leaving them without personal items in their bags. More than 13,000 flights within, out of, or into the US have been canceled or delayed over the weekend, according to data from flight tracker Flight Aware.
Delta plans to cancel 100 flights per day in July and August to prevent summer travel disruptions as it struggles to keep up with skyrocketing demand and ongoing labor shortages.
A Delta spokesman told Insider on Saturday that there are challenges with air traffic control, weather, and unscheduled absences in some work groups. Our last resort is to cancel a flight, and we apologize to our customers for the hassle.
In an interview with 11 Alive, a disabled army veteran said that the lengthy delays have prevented him from returning home from his honeymoon.
"It became a very miserable plane ride waiting for this hell hole to let us finally leave, and I slept on the floor of the airport overnight," he said.
Brooke Osbourne, the mother of an 11-month-old child, told 11 Alive that she's short on formula and diapers because others are running out.
Since all of her formula is in our checked bag, we have given her more food and less bottles.
Delta has been hit harder than any other airline in recent months. 700 flights were canceled by the carrier during Memorial Day weekend. At the time, Delta allowed cancellation at least 24 hours before departure time and later flights for most of the customers who were impacted by disruptions.
Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg met with several airline CEOs on Thursday to discuss the industry's challenges and press the executives to find ways to improve service before the July 4 holiday.
As demand returns to levels not seen before, air travelers should be able to expect reliable service.
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