Air Travel Woes: Cybersecurity Incidents and Cancellations Amid Record Passengers

Despite record summer travel in the U.S., airlines have experienced significant flight cancellations, largely due to cybersecurity issues sparked by CrowdStrike. The TSA forecasts a peak in Labor Day travel, despite the ongoing air traffic controller shortage addressed by the FAA. Airlines anticipate more passenger seats through the holiday period.

U.S. airlines have canceled 1.6% of all flights this year despite record summer travel and significant disruptions in July sparked by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, the Transportation Department reported on Thursday. While the current cancellation rate is slightly above last year's, it's still lower than any year since 2017.

The Transportation Security Administration stated last week that U.S. summer travel has reached new heights and forecasts record passenger numbers for the Labor Day travel period, traditionally marking the end of summer. Between Thursday and Sept. 4, the TSA anticipates screening 17 million air travelers, an 8.5% increase over the same holiday period last year. Airlines are planning to offer 3.3% more seats departing from U.S. airports through Monday compared to last year, according to Airlines for America, a trade group.

FlightAware and the airline group noted that carriers canceled fewer than 100 flights on Thursday, less than 0.5% of total flights, but the Federal Aviation Administration warned of potential weather-related delays at some airports. Notably, the TSA screened 3.01 million passengers on July 7, the highest number ever recorded in a single day.

A software update last month by global cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike created system problems for Microsoft customers, including numerous airlines, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations. Delta Air Lines alone canceled about 7,000 flights over five days, impacting 1.3 million passengers and experiencing a slower recovery than other airlines.

The FAA continues to address a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers. In June, the FAA extended cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports through October 2025, citing the staffing shortage. Last month, the FAA mandated the relocation of 12 air traffic controllers from New York to Philadelphia temporarily to manage New Jersey airspace responsibilities.

(With inputs from agencies.)