Hundreds stranded at OIA after several flights canceled
Severe storms, staff shortages and traffic left hundreds of people stranded at Orlando International Airport throughout the weekend and into Monday, and many flights were canceled. “The delay has been frustrating. Now that we know we’re here, we’re fine,” said Ellen Merkel. “We just entered, we looked at the departure board and found it, it’s canceled!” Kane and Melanie Robertson said the weather in the Northeast along with busy travel days is causing reverberations in the air and on the ground. “At the airport for over 36 hours — right at the airport between San Juan Airport and here,” said Cees Werner and Joe Fennell. “We had to rent a car again which was a lot more than the week before because of the spring break,” said Kane and Melanie Robertson. Some passengers were in line for boarding when they learned their plane was not taking off anymore. “We didn’t break spring for our sophomores and juniors in college, so this is our first big one and it feels like a bad experience,” Werner and Fennel said. With the spring break season in full swing, the airport checked more than 80,000 passengers. On Saturday, surpassing the record set in March 2020. “It was really stressful. I mean he was supposed to go to school tomorrow, he can’t go because we won’t go down till midnight, so I won’t make him go to school, said Talisha Royal. Long queues. “So I came here on a Friday night. I arrived two hours before my flight even though I had TSA pre-screened.” Demetris Grimes said, “They closed the TSA line, and the queue for people waiting to go through security had already gone through. Already past Chick-Fil-A.” Passengers are advised to check with their airline directly for any updates regarding their flight, and the airport expects to see busier days as Easter approaches, said Robertson. Orlando International says this spring break period should be Busier than last year: 35% more people come through the airport, which serves more than seven million people during the two-month period.
Severe storms, staff shortages and traffic left hundreds of people stranded at Orlando International Airport throughout the weekend and into Monday.
Multiple flights have been cancelled.
“The delay has been frustrating. Now that we know we’re here, we’re fine,” said Ellen Merkel.
“We just entered, we looked at the departure board and found it, it’s canceled!” Kane and Melanie Robertson said.
The OIA says weather in the Northeast along with busy travel days is causing backups in the air and on the ground.
“At the airport for over 36 hours — right at the airport between San Juan Airport and here,” said Cees Werner and Joe Fennell.
“We had to rent a car again which was a lot more than the week before because of the spring break,” said Kane and Melanie Robertson.
Some passengers were in line for boarding when they learned their plane was not taking off anymore.
“We’re in college and we didn’t break a sophomore or first year college class, so this is our first big one and it’s such a bad experience,” Werner and Fennel said.
With the spring break season in full swing, the airport screened more than 80,000 passengers on Saturday, surpassing the number recorded in March 2020.
“It was really stressful,” Talisha Royal said. “I mean he was supposed to go to school tomorrow, he can’t go because we won’t be there until midnight so I won’t make him go to school.”
Some people missed their flight after waiting in long lines.
“So I came here on a Friday night. I arrived two hours before my flight even though the TSA checked beforehand. They closed the TSA line and the line for people waiting to go through security is already past Chick-Fil-A,” Demetris Grimes said.
“It makes you not want to fly so badly but you have to,” Robertson said.
Passengers are advised to check with their airline directly for any updates regarding their flight. The airport expects to see busier days as Easter approaches.
Orlando International says this spring break period should be busier than last year: 35% more people come through the airport, which serves more than seven million people during the two-month period.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.