Airlines Hit an "Eddie" in Northeast

NEWS Jetblue announced that it cancelled 23% of its February 17 and 18 flights, due to a snowstorm on Wednesday (AP). The snowstorm forced JetBlue to cancel and delay some of its flights since the storm. According to some FlightAware data, JetBlue leased planes from other companies to get people where they want to go.

JetBlue cancelled service to Richmond, VA; Pittsburgh, PA; Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham, NC; Jacksonville, FL; Austin and Houston, TX; Bermuda; Columbus, OH; Nashville, TN and Portland, ME (JetBlue)

Delta and American Airlines also reported hardships, with flights still being cancelled as a result of the storm. All three airlines (Delta, JetBlue and American) have hub operations in New York and suffered greatly because of the storm. Cincinnati's Enquirer reports two-thirds of Cincinnati's flights were cancelled by Delta on Tuesday, February 13. American Airlines, which has the biggest presence at Kennedy International Airport, said they expected to cancel as many as 40 flights in New York area, AMT reports. Continental Airlines had delays and two cancelled flights at its Newark hub.

OPINION Weather causes delays almost everywhere. It is proven through traffic jams, airport delays, public transportation troubles and so on. The general media is hitting JetBlue hard, mostly (probably) because hundreds of people were stuck on airplanes for hours; some as much as eight hours. I cannot say that this is JetBlue's fault and I cannot say it's not. It was the airline's decision to keep people in the planes, but they based the decision on what the Air Traffic Control was telling them. The airline is run pretty good (same goes for some major carriers too), in my opinion. However, as with anyone, bad days happen, no matter how hard you try not to let them get to you.

Airlines will live through this and it will happen again next year, regrettably.


UPDATE In an interview with David Neeleman, founder and CEO of JetBlue, the New York Times (registration required) reported that the company will set up a system where JetBlue's penalties would be more severe than anything Congress can do. Mr. Neeleman was referring to a 'Bill of Rights for Passengers,' being considered by the U.S. legislature. The introduction of such a bill, which may require airlines to release passengers, if those choose to want to leave, after a certain time on the tarmac. Mr. Neeleman promised a different company after the changes, which he will announce on Tuesday.

JetBlue's delays, Gordon Bethune (former CEO of Continental Airlines) said, were a result of fast growth.