by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 1:25 PM ET, Tue June 18, 2024
Summer is definitely a busy travel season for American air carriers, but extreme hot temperatures and unpredictable summer storms might impact air travel more this summer than it has in the past.
The Federal Aviation Administration states that 63 percent of flight delays are weather-related, with more southern airport hubs being impacted on a greater scale, due to their proximity to coastlines with tropical storms and more extreme heat.
According to USA TODAY, most Airbus and Boeing aircraft can take off safely up to about 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Yet smaller aircraft have a lower temperature threshold. Either way, aircraft’s temperature thresholds differ by weight, altitude and other conditions that make it variable.
In some situations, hot air, which is also thin air, will reduce lift on aircraft during engine thrust, which in turn reduces ascent, and sometimes makes it impossible for aircraft to take off at all.
“The FAA’s job is to get travelers to their destination safely and efficiently. This summer will see more planes in the skies, frequent bad weather, and increased use of the nation’s airspace. We are continuously working to address these challenges,” said a statement from the FAA to USA TODAY. “Our summer travel website outlines initiatives we’ve taken to keep summer traffic safe and smooth.”
Intense heat is expected to continue throughout the week in the Northeast portion of the United States, with states as far north as Maine likely seeing triple digits. As heat kills more people than hurricanes and tornadoes combined each year, it’s important to take precautions during daily activities, but the heat, especially combined with humidity, could also bring more storms to the region.
Taking the first flight of the morning is the safest choice for travelers flying this summer. Temperatures are often the lowest in the morning. Additionally, if a morning flight was to be canceled due to bad weather, there are often other flights available later in the day that could ensure a traveler could still fly.
Travelers can also try avoiding connecting through airports in the south in the summer, choosing instead to connect through hubs like Chicago O’Hare or one of New York’s airports, but this is not a foolproof strategy.
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