There was an unexpected spate of flight delays impacting Hawaii on Saturday, during the long-awaited Memorial Day weekend getaway. Read below for Delta’s response. While checking on how the cancellations on the mainland were impacting Hawaii flights today, we were shocked. First, pleasantly so, to find that Hawaii had very few cancelled flights; in fact, just two. Those were both Alaska Airlines. AS858 from Lihue to Portland was cancelled as was AS834 from Honolulu to Portland. As we’ve reported, Alaska has had its share of issues related to pilots, which unfortunately shows no abating for now.
Also see, Scores Of Hawaiian Air Flights Cancelled + Southwest Pilots Safety Warning.
53 Honolulu flight delays Saturday.
Four Alaska Airlines flights were delayed at HNL.
One American Airlines flight was delayed at HNL.
Three Delta Airlines flights were delayed at HNL.
Thirty-one Hawaiian Airlines flights were delayed at HNL.
Twelve Southwest Airlines flights were delayed at HNL.
Two United Airlines flights were delayed at HNL.
27 Maui flight delays Saturday.
Five Alaska Airlines flights were delayed at OGG.
Three American Airlines flights were delayed at OGG.
Thirteen Hawaiian Airlines flights were delayed at OGG.
Six Southwest Airlines flights were delayed at OGG.
9 Kauai flight delays Saturday.
Two Alaska Airlines flights were delayed at OGG.
One American Airlines flight was delayed at OGG.
Two Hawaiian Airlines flights were delayed at OGG.
Four Southwest Airlines flights were delayed at OGG.
23 Kona B.I. flight delays Saturday.
Six Alaska Airlines flights were delayed at KOA.
One Delta Airlines flight was delayed at KOA.
Ten Hawaiian Airlines flights were delayed at KOA.
Four Southwest Airlines flights were delayed at KOA.
Two United Airlines flights were delayed at KOA.
3 Hilo B.I. flight delays Saturday.
Three Hawaiian Airlines flights were delayed at KOA.
1,500+ mainland flights were cancelled Saturday.
Things could be worse here in Hawaii. A lot worse. That’s as over 1,500 flights were cancelled today according to FlightAware, following Friday’s unprecedented cancellation of 2,300 mainland flights.
Delta had the biggest set of problems, with 240 flights cancelled on Saturday. Those were attributed by the airline to a combination of “air traffic control actions” and bad weather. The carrier pledged to try to announce cancelled flights at least 24 hours in advance.
This comes as more of us are again taking to the skies after a long pause during Covid. More mainland flight cancellations are planned through Monday, which we will continue to monitor.
Why are so many flights being cancelled or delayed?
With more than 3,500 mainland flights cancelled so far this weekend, and many more than that delayed, we wanted to know what the cause is. The best answer that we’ve seen so far came from Delta Airlines:
“More than any time in our history, the various factors currently impacting our operation — weather and air traffic control, vendor staffing, increased COVID case rates contributing to higher-than-planned unscheduled absences in some work groups — are resulting in an operation that isn’t consistently up to the standards Delta has set for the industry in recent years.”
Was your flight cancelled or delayed on Memorial Day Weekend?
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DD says
I’ve been driving Uber part-time. I picked up several rides this weekend with passengers whose flights came from another Island and were delayed on Kauai by 5 hours (don’t know if it was planned or unplanned, but the first time I’d heard it). So they caught an Uber and enjoyed an ocean-side dinner, then came back. I thought it was a smart way to deal with the frustration.
Frieda A says
Please remove Covid as the cause. It is now coronavirus. Do the research and report the correct virus.
Scott V says
My son is flying back from Kona to Honolulu tomorrow. His concert why there so many flied cancel. Thank you
Nadine K says
I plan to be moving to Hawaii Maui as a matter of fact and I have a small dog it’s a chihuahua and it’s in my emotionally support dog so what are the qualifications for me to be able to take my dog with me to live in Hawaii or is there any can you get back to me on this I’d appreciate it
Keith s says
I do hope this gets ironed soon because the cancelations will add to an already stressful situation. Just please everyone have some patience and understanding.
Clayton B says
Our 12:40 PM flight from Honolulu to Long Beach, California on Southwest went off on time. An excellent, smooth ride on the 737Max8! Kudos to Southwest!!!
Kassy F says
Had zero problems leaving Ontario, California to Las Vegas then Las Vegas to Southbend Indiana. Airport security was a breeze.
MJP says
Unfortunately Hawaiian Airlines is the worst of all. They cancelled our flight at LAX and gave two completely shady stories.
The employees range from good to horrific and overly-sensitive and utterly incompetent.
The FAA should launch an investigation into the corporate C-suite at Hawaiian Air
Kilo s says
So wait. You think Hawaiian lied to you? And they would do that Why? You seem angry that your flight was canceled. It happens. More at the other carriers than our hometown airline for sure.
JohnW says
All airlines do in fact have issues from time to time, the mainland airlines Hawaii flights are vulnerable because problems anywhere in their system can cause snowballing issues with their Hawaii flights. All Hawaiian’s flights start or end in Hawaii, it’s one of the reasons they have the best ontime record of all the airlines serving Hawaii. Signaling them out is like the people that come here and complain about the “Locals”
KT D says
Well I guess if our public leaders won’t curtail the over-tourism, something else needs to.
Bill M says
Bring back your unvaxed pilots and crew…that will provide some relief regarding labor shortages.
Stop giving in to the Big Pharma Big Govt hysteria.
Mark L says
There are many flight crews working with vaccine exemptions – nobody was sent home. Additionally, the law requiring the vaccine is currently tied up in court and unenforceable.
PegM says
Yeah those six United pilots will fix the problem.
Kay L says
No, Saturday my flights were perfect and early arrivals! Left Las Vegas and connected through San Francisco on United airlines. Continued to Kona and arrived 15 minutes early. Thank you United Airlines. Here for 4 months! Aloha!!
CindyW says
Oh wow..I can’t imagine four months there. I would not want to go home..lol We usually stay 10 days. We have 10 days coming up in September. We are going to try for 3 weeks next year. Enjoy your time in paradise…
Kilo S says
The Hawaiian … and probably to a lesser extent .. Southwest… delays in Hawaii need to be put into context. Unlike other carriers, those two operate large numbers of very short interisland segments. One delay can cause an all day downline effect, which might only be a few minutes. In context: 31 out of 200 is not unacceptable
Michael P says
Sorry disagree with you. Hawaiian has cancelled so many flights on us that they vowed never to fly with them again despite having miles left.
John says
I’m guessing you are trolling MJP, Hawaiian has an excellent reputation here. Best transpac service and they are definitely the more reliable inter island operation.
S. says
You’re saying 15% is acceptable!? And that’s ~27% of the number of cancellations, from one airline?! If I did not complete 15% of my projects for clients I would lose my job.
Jeff S. says
Seems like Hawaiian, which originates (and terminates) most flights in the Islands, should have some sort of explanation for why they had so many flights delayed, particularly out of Honolulu.
Did an unannounced hurricane/tropical cyclone strike the Hawaiian Islands this weekend?
Bill M says
They refuse to bring back unvaxed workers…..and we all suffer.
Bilbo says
Maybe if we just keep saying it, it’ll make it true.
Margaret M says
Thankfully our United flight was delayed less than an hour, 53 minutes, and arrived safely Thursday at KOA, just prior to the weekend. It was due to a generator malfunction. Thankful to be back in the islands safe and sound!
Mark G says
What a relaxing vacation lol. Why would anyone put themselves thru this?
Julie H says
I sadly canceled mine because Alaska Air took out direct flights from Los Angeles to the islands, I can’t handle spending all day in and out of planes and airports, we already live two hours from the airport. So disappointing this is our second cancellation to Kona since Covid.
deb says
You maybe the one returning home here to Hawaii.. suppose that didn’t cross your mind? that 9th island has a big HI resident calling
Laura C says
Flew on Alaska (operated by Horizon Air). Happy to report that Portland to KC was on time.
TomK says
Here’s another perspective. I’ve been flying for business for over 40 years. And, yes, there were a lot less flights 20-30 years ago, but back then air traffic control did not have advanced weather information nation wide. Air traffic control would release flights sending them into Hellacious weather conditions at the arriving airport forcing pilots to circle in brutal conditions. I distinctly remember a terrifying Eastern Airline flight into Philadelpihia. We were rocking & rolling and struck by lightning. People were crying, screaming and praying with rosary beads. Thank God we landed safely. That would never happen today. Air traffic control would delay the flight at the departing airport which is fine by me. Much safer
Paul L. says
Delta blaming the air traffic controllers and weather may not be the truth. Last time delays happened in Florida some airlines (forgot which airline) blamed it on weather, it turned out that the weather was fine and other major airlines did not have any delays.