ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Friday is expected to be the busiest day at airports since before the pandemic. It comes at the end of a week filled with delays and cancelations.
“We just have to be patient and flexible,” said Marty Piette, airport director at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport.
Our airports have not been immune to the travel troubles that have seen thousands of delays and cancelations across the country.
“Well, I was supposed to be in Milwaukee yesterday, and I am in Green Bay today,” said Sarah Kehoe of Boston while waiting to be picked up at Austin Straubel.
See updated statistics on flight delays and cancelations.
“We were late leaving, probably an hour, maybe an hour and a half, and then Chicago it was another hour or so,” said Charlotte Thompson of her travels from Akron, Ohio to Ashwaubenon.
Chicago’s problems are having the most impact on air travelers in Green Bay, according to Piette. He says it is the smoke from the wildfires.
“The flights operating in and out of GRB are fine,” said Piette. “Really, you run into the issue in more congested airspace like Chicago. They then have to increase separation, which then decreases the number of landings and take offs.”
Weather isn’t the only thing being blamed for this week’s travel troubles. Scott Kirby, the CEO of United, the airline with by far the most delays and cancelations, says a lack of staffing at air traffic control centers is a major issue.
Others point out airplane seating capacity is still 90% of what it was at this time before the pandemic.
“They say it’s weather, but I feel it’s more of just maybe understaffing, something like that, and they just don’t want to cop up to it,” said Kehoe.
Regardless of the reason, Piette urges travelers to download their airline’s mobile app to stay up to date.
“Make sure they have your cellphone number so that you can get real-time updates on any gate changes, time changes,” said Piette. “Just recognize you might have to be flexible if there is an impact to your flight.”
AAA forecasts almost 18 million Americans will fly over the weekend, beating a pre-pandemic record.
