Storm delays all flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Everything travelers should know
A ground stop and ground delay were issued for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Thursday, Feb. 8, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's National Airspace System.
The FAA issued a ground stop around 8:45 a.m. because of weather conditions that included low clouds, which was in effect for only a few minutes. A second ground stop was issued around 12:45 p.m., also because of low clouds, and was scheduled to remain in effect through 2 p.m. with a 30% to 60% chance of being extended beyond that time.
The ground delay is delaying departures by about 20 minutes on average because of inclement weather. The FAA expects it to remain in effect through 5 p.m. Thursday, according to the FAA.
Low clouds can affect flights because they negatively impact pilots' visibility when flying, making conditions less safe, according to the World Meteorological Association.
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What are ground stops and ground delays?
A ground stop is when flights cannot take off or land because it's not safe enough to do so, according to the FAA.
A ground delay is when flights headed to an airport experiencing adverse conditions must delay their takeoffs.
The FAA can order a ground stop or delay during severe weather to ensure safety, but it does not cancel flights.
Why are flights delayed at Sky Harbor Airport?
Winter storms moved their way through Arizona, bringing below-normal temperatures and rainy, cloudy weather to metro Phoenix, according to the National Weather Service.
How long will my flight be delayed?
The FAA's delay trend outlook forecasted the effects of the ground delay based on original departure times as follows:
10-11 a.m.: 55 minutes.
11 a.m.-noon: 29 minutes.
Noon-1 p.m.: 28 minutes.
1-2 p.m.: 19 minutes.
2-3 p.m.: 11 minutes.
3-4 p.m.: 6 minutes.
4-5 p.m.: 5 minutes.
How many flights were delayed at the Phoenix airport?
As of 2 p.m. Thursday, 214 delayed flights were reported at Sky Harbor, most of which were flights aboard Southwest Airlines, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.
Only two flights were canceled.
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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 [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport flights delayed for storm. What to know