by Donald Wood
Last updated: 1:05 PM ET, Tue June 20, 2017
As a result of skyrocketing temperatures in Arizona, American Airlines has canceled around 50 flights in and out of Phoenix Tuesday, according to UPI.com.
In a report from NBCDFW.com, American issued the cancellations for smaller regional jets that have lower maximum operating temperatures than the full-size aircraft from manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus.
The smaller regional planes can't operate when it's 118 degrees or above.
To give passengers a heads up about possible cancellations, officials from American announced that the airline would have to ground flights during a heat wave that could see temperature reach near 120 degrees.
American spokesman Ross Feinstein said late afternoons are the peak times for the high temperatures. To help accommodate passengers impacted by the cancellations, the airline is waiving change fees in Phoenix.
[READMORE] READ MORE: Flight Cancellations Hit All-Time Low[/READMORE]
The extreme temperatures cause changes in the density of the air, which makes it hard for planes to take off. While airlines limit the weight inside the aircraft to ensure successful departures, the only option when a heat wave reaches over 118 degrees is to cancel flights.
Cancellations due to heat waves could become more common, as a recent study by the University of Hawaii indicates 50 percent of the world's population will experience a month of deadly heat waves every year by the year 2100.
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