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As summer travel season kicks off, flight disruptions are causing chaos across airports nationwide, throwing people’s travel plans into disarray.
Hundreds of flights have been delayed or canceled by major airlines, forcing frustrated travelers to scramble for alternatives just as they head off to long-awaited vacations.
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Some airlines justify these disruptions by citing staffing shortages, unpredictable weather, and operational issues, but for passengers, the timing couldn’t be worse.
What should be a season of tropical getaways and relaxation-filled weekend escapes has quickly turned into a logistical nightmare.
Related: American Airlines cancels hundreds of flights starting in August
And the cancellations are ongoing. In May, American Airlines cut 70 weekly flights from Chicago O’Hare International Airport beginning in August, right at the peak of travel season.
Image source: Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
American Airlines launches new Flagship Suite seats
Despite the disruptions, American Airlines (AAL) debuted its new Flagship Suite seats in early June, with the first flight departing Chicago O’Hare International Airport for Los Angeles International Airport.
The Flagship Suite seats are available for business class passengers traveling on select long-haul Boeing 787-9 flights. They have personal storage space, a wireless charging pad, USB-C and AC power, and a chaise lounge seating option with an adjustable headrest pillow.
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Passengers eager to experience the new seats began booking the specific flight as soon as the upgrade became available. However, some were met with the disappointment of boarding a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which doesn’t have the premium seating.
Business Class tickets are already a pricey splurge, and many passengers expressed frustration over the substitution. Others had worse luck, with their flights getting canceled altogether.
American Airlines responds to the rumors
Over the last few days, several American Airlines flights have been delayed or canceled, with some involving the Boeing 787-9 aircraft. This aircraft was assigned to domestic routes between Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas-Fort Worth, as well as international long-haul flights to destinations in Europe and Asia.
Unconfirmed reports suggested mechanical and electrical problems on some Boeing 787-9 planes, including issues with cabin lighting systems and door seals, as the reason for the disruptions.
Related: American Airlines will allow flight passengers to skip TSA security
To clarify the situation and address rumors, American Airlines issued a statement to The Street:
“All of American’s premium Boeing 787-9 aircraft are currently in service. Earlier this month, one aircraft was taken out of service due to a mechanical issue, which has since been resolved. We worked to minimize customer disruption while the aircraft was out of service, including using other similar aircraft to cover its assigned flying and reaccommodating customers on alternative flights. We never want to disrupt our customers’ travel plans and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
- American currently has four premium Boeing 787-9 aircraft in its fleet. That’s out of a total fleet of nearly 1,000 mainline aircraft.
- The issue had to do with the cabin announcement system and lighting.
Still, Boeing’s reputation has been under scrutiny for years. Problems with Boeing 787 aircraft date back to 2013 when a series of lithium-ion battery malfunctions led to overheating and even onboard fires, prompting the temporary grounding of multiple Dreamliners worldwide.
In 2024, a retired Boeing employee alleged that defective parts were used in the production of the aircraft, and multiple whistleblowers followed with similar concerning allegations.
Just last month, the devastating crash of Air India Flight 171, flying a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Ahmedabad Airport in India to London Gatwick Airport in the UK, took the lives of 260 passengers.
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