The extreme heat in the Southwest region of the United States has been affecting summer travel plans. Multiple flights coming to and from Phoenix have been grounded due to hot temperatures and it’s starting to affect Lubbock flyers.
Many passengers arriving from Phoenix into Lubbock said that they had to rebook their flights to the early morning hours or evening hours because of the extreme heat.
“I have 13 different boarding passes just from yesterday in my backpack,” says one traveler who was rebooked several times and had to stay overnight because of heat cancelations. He was traveling to Lubbock as a new resident.
The planes are being grounded because they are unable to take off safely in these heats. The hot temperature makes the air denser which makes the planes go slower. To get faster speeds, the aircraft usually needs a longer runway, which not all airports have access to.
Although Lubbock is feeling the summer heat, it’s unlikely Lubbock flights will be grounded due to the temperature.
The owner of Lubbock Executive Air Park, Mark Drake, said temperatures need to be above 112 degrees for pilots and airport staff to start thinking about grounding flights.
“The pilots are looking, the dispatch is looking, if the temps are getting near, they are going to be looking at it saying ‘Hey is this a no go” deal today,'” Drake said. “If the forecasted temps are too high they are going to start making plans about what to do with those flights.
American Airlines grounded about 50 flights over the weekend and expect to ground many more in Phoenix. Phoenix is expected to be 119 degrees on Tuesday.
American Airlines is telling customers to reschedule their flights to times in the morning or at night when the temperature is cooler.