Severe storms in several Northeast cities disrupted flights to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Friday, Aug. 7.
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered ground stops because of thunderstorms on Friday at several Northeast airports including Baltimore; Philadelphia; Reagan National and Dulles in Washington, D.C.; and John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty in the New York City metro area, according to the FAA's National Airspace System Status website.
A National Weather Service forecast stated that scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible throughout the Central and Eastern United States through the weekend. A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect in the New York City and Washington, D.C. areas.
The disruptions
at these airports affected their service to and from Phoenix. Here's what Arizonans should know if they plan to fly to the region during the storms.
How many flights were disrupted at Phoenix Sky Harbor?
As of 3:45 p.m. Aug. 7, 13 flights were canceled and 167 flights were delayed at Sky Harbor, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.
Eleven of the 13 cancellations were flights to and from Northeast airports.
What is a ground stop?
A ground stop is an air traffic procedure that requires all aircraft to remain on the ground. It's frequently used when it's not safe for flights to take off or land at an airport.
It's related to, but different from, a ground delay, which is when flights destined for an airport experiencing adverse conditions must delay their takeoffs, according to the FAA.
While the FAA can order ground stops and ground delays at airports, it does not cancel flights. That's up to the airlines.
How to rebook or get a refund
Sky Harbor staff advises travelers to check the status of their flight with their airline before arriving at the airport.
Airlines have travel advisories for the Northeast storms, offering flexible travel options for affected passengers.
American Airlines passengers who booked their flights before Aug. 5 and were scheduled to travel on Aug. 7-8 can rebook their flight for travel from now to Aug. 12 without paying fare differences or change fees, as long as they maintain the original cabin of service and city pairs. Changes must be booked by Aug. 8.
Southwest Airlines passengers can rebook within the next 14 days without paying fare differences, as long as they maintain the original cabin of service and city pairs.
Passengers on canceled or significantly delayed flights who choose not to fly can get refunds for the unused portion of their flight ticket.
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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Over 100 Phoenix flights canceled or delayed by severe Northeast storm
