U.S. travelers face thousands of flight delays, hundreds of cancellations, over busy Thanksgiving weekend

Thousands of US travelers faced flight delays and cancellations over the Thanksgiving weekend, as severe winter weather and software issues disrupted air travel.

According to data from FlightAware, there were 12,113 inbound and outbound flight delays reported across the US on Sunday alone, with 1,424 flights canceled altogether. Airports in major cities such as Chicago, New York City, Boston, Des Moines, Fort Lauderdale, and Detroit were among those most affected.

The disruption was largely due to a powerful snowstorm that hit the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, causing airport delays and slow-moving traffic. Snowfall rates of over one inch per hour led to significant disruptions, with northern Iowa receiving upwards of eight inches of snow in just a few hours.

Airlines also reported software issues as thousands of Airbus A320 aircraft were flagged for urgent software updates by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). JetBlue canceled around 170 flights on Sunday due to these updates, and Frontier Airlines completed their update process with no impact on customers. Spirit Airlines is still working through its update process.

The situation was exacerbated by a rail disruption in Providence, Rhode Island, where a fire broke out beneath three Amtrak train cars, prompting an evacuation. Fortunately, no passengers were injured, but the incident highlighted the potential risks associated with severe winter weather.

The disruptions are expected to have long-term implications for air travel, particularly during peak holiday seasons like Thanksgiving. As airlines work to complete software updates and mitigate further disruptions, travelers can expect continued challenges in the skies above the US this weekend.

You know I told you it was gonna be a wild ride over Thanksgiving . First of all, 12,113 flight delays on Sunday alone? That's some messed up magic numbers, if you ask me. And then they got hit with a major snowstorm that just... happened outta nowhere. You think that's natural? Please. I bet it was orchestrated by someone trying to keep the economy down .

And don't even get me started on those software updates. JetBlue canceling flights left and right because of "urgent" updates? That's like a digital apocalypse, if you ask me . What's really going on with that FAA? Are they trying to distract us from something? Or is it just a case of bad timing... or is it both?

And what about those rail disruptions in Providence? A fire under three train cars? That sounds like some kind of insurance scam to me . Who's behind that? Amtrak, FAA, or maybe someone else entirely? I'm telling you, there are too many coincidences here to be just a coincidence .

Ugh, I'm so done with the travel chaos this Thanksgiving . Like, who expected thousands of flights to get canceled or delayed? It's not just the snowstorm, it's also those software issues that airlines are dealing with... like, can't they just make sure their planes are airworthy before taking off? And don't even get me started on the rail disruption in Rhode Island - I mean, what's up with fires breaking out beneath train cars? It's a wonder nobody got hurt. Anyway, I guess this is just another reminder that winter travel is always a crapshoot...

Ugh, what a disaster ! Thousands of people stuck in airports with no end in sight... I mean, who thought it was a good idea to schedule all these flights on one crazy day? And don't even get me started on the software issues, like airlines are just trying to cover their own behinds . JetBlue got hit hard with 170 cancellations, can you imagine being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no flight for days... not fun at all! And what's up with these rail disruptions? Fire breaks out beneath train cars and people get evacuated, but no one gets hurt... just great, now I'm going to be late for my own Thanksgiving dinner .

Ugh, just had to cancel my flights from Chicago to LA for Thanksgiving... like, I was so stoked to spend the holidays with family but now I'm stuck here . Air travel is such a mess right now, especially with all these software issues and snowstorms hitting major airports. I feel bad for all those people who had to deal with flight delays and cancellations on Sunday . And can we talk about how crazy it was when the Amtrak train caught fire in Providence? Like, what even is that?! Anyway, gotta be patient and hope the airlines get these software updates done ASAP so we can fly freely again .

I FEEL SO FRUSTRATED WITH ALL THESE FLIGHT DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS THIS THANKSGIVING WEEKEND!!! I HAD PLANS TO VISIT MY FAMILY IN THE MIDWEST BUT NOW I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL MAKE IT ON TIME. AIRLINES NEED TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND SORT OUT THESE SOFTWARE ISSUES ASAP!!! IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD WITH A LITTLE BIT OF UPDATE CODE

ugh, another thanksgiving weekend to forget i'm so done with these flight delays and cancellations it's like the universe is conspiring against us. but seriously, 12k+ flight delays? that's crazy! i feel bad for everyone stuck in airports, especially with that powerful snowstorm hitting the midwest and great lakes regions - can't believe people had to deal with 8 inches of snow in just a few hours

and don't even get me started on those software issues... like, can't they do it during a non-holiday weekend? anyway, glad that no one was injured from that rail fire in providence. hope air travel recovers soon and we can actually enjoy our holidays without all the drama

I mean come on, what's up with all these flights getting delayed or canceled? Can't a snowstorm just chill for one day?! And don't even get me started on the software issues - like, couldn't they've done that during a less busy time? Now it's peak holiday season and they're gonna mess up our travel plans? It's so frustrating!

omg air travel is literally a hot mess rn ️ thousands of ppl stuck at airports cuz of snowstorms and software issues i feel so bad for those who got canceled flights JetBlue's gotta step up their game, 170+ flights cancelled? what even is that?! meanwhile, Spirit Airlines is still trying to update their planes like wut's good?! can't believe ppl are still stuck in Providence due to a fire under the train anyway, i guess this just means more excuse for us to stay home and binge-watch our fave shows instead of dealing with all the chaos

1,424 flights canceled on a Sunday? That's wild! I was supposed to fly out on Monday and my flight got delayed by like 5 hours just because of that snowstorm. And now I'm stuck here thinking about all the people who are still waiting for their flights to be rescheduled. The FAA needs to step up its game, especially during peak travel seasons. Can't we have some reliable software updates for once?

OMG this is so messed up!!! Flight delays and cancellations on Thanksgiving?! Who needs that stress? And it's not just the snowstorm or software issues, but also a rail disruption in Providence... like what even is that? I feel so bad for all those travelers who were supposed to spend time with their families and now they're stuck in airports. The FAA really needs to get its priorities straight, especially during peak travel seasons. And airlines, come on! 170 flights canceled by JetBlue alone?! That's a lot of holiday cheer to ruin

Flight drama on Turkey Day? I'm not surprised, tbh. Those airlines have been struggling with software issues for ages . And now, add a snowstorm on top of that? Perfect recipe for disaster! I've got friends who were stuck in Chicago, waiting for hours to get outta the airport . And don't even get me started on JetBlue's 170 flight cancellations . That's just rude, imo . Anyway, it looks like airlines are finally getting their act together with those software updates . Fingers crossed that they can iron out these issues before the next big holiday rush . Can't wait to see if my family makes it on time for Christmas...

so frustrating for all those us who were planning a smooth trip home for thanksgiving... I'm just glad no one got hurt from that rail fire in providence . but honestly, software issues and severe weather are like, a recipe for disaster for air travel. it's crazy how something as simple as an update can cause so much chaos . anyway, hope everyone gets back to their destinations soon & flights get back on track!

Ugh, just when you think it's safe to fly... Winter weather is just brutal, especially for those on the ground. I feel for all the travelers who had their plans ruined by delays and cancellations. At least some airlines like Frontier were prepared and didn't have any major issues . The rail disruption in Rhode Island was a close call tho - glad no one got hurt . It's gonna be a bumpy ride for air travel this holiday season, but I'm sure everyone will get through it . Maybe it's time to start checking the weather forecast like 24 hours before you fly ?

oh noooo!! poor ppl having a horrible thanksgiving so many flights delayed & cancelled 12k+ delays reported on sunday alone?! that's just crazy!!! hope everyone stays safe & warm during this winter storm and airlines get their software sorted out ASAP fingers crossed for a smoother ride next time

Wow Air travel is always a gamble, especially when it comes to winter weather! Software issues adding to the mix? That's just crazy. I feel bad for all those stranded passengers... Did anyone get a decent snow day instead of a flight delay tho? Interesting that rail disruptions can happen in unexpected places like Providence...

Ugh, this is getting ridiculous ! I'm so over these weather-related issues disrupting our daily lives. Like, can't we just get a decent snowstorm without it causing widespread travel chaos? And now with software issues adding to the mix, it's like the universe is conspiring against us. A little foresight and planning would go a long way here, don't you think? I mean, airlines could have anticipated these issues and planned accordingly, but no... let's just sit here and wait for the updates . This Thanksgiving weekend was supposed to be all about cozying up with loved ones, not dealing with cancellations and delays . Anyway, hope everyone stays safe out there!

Ugh, that's crazy! I mean, I'm glad no one got hurt from the fire at the train station, but it's just so frustrating when flights get cancelled or delayed because of snow or software issues. I was supposed to fly out on Sunday and now my trip is all messed up . I feel bad for people who were looking forward to traveling over Thanksgiving and having their plans ruined. Airlines need to get their act together and make sure these kinds of things don't happen again. And can we talk about how Amtrak handled the fire situation? Like, what a relief that no one was hurt!

Ugh, I feel so bad for those families with kids who were supposed to fly out on Sunday . I mean, I know winter weather is no joke, but come on! Can't we just get through one holiday weekend without major delays? And now I'm worried about how this is going to affect my own family's travel plans...we have a flight out next week and I'm hoping it doesn't happen again . It's always the little ones who suffer, like my niece who was meant to fly out with her friends for Thanksgiving break . Airlines need to get their act together, especially during peak seasons . This is just too much for one family to handle .

I mean, think about it, all these flights delayed or canceled on one of the busiest travel days of the year... it's a real wake-up call for us as humans. Like, we're already so stressed and anxious during holidays, what more stress do we need? And it's not just about us travelers, it's also about the airline staff, the airport workers, all the people who are affected by these disruptions... it's like, can't we all just take a deep breath and enjoy the ride (literally)? But seriously, I think this is an opportunity for airlines and airports to re-evaluate their systems and processes, to make sure they're better equipped to handle unexpected situations like this. And for us travelers, maybe it's time to be more patient and flexible... after all, life's full of unexpected twists and turns