You probably know that feeling- the pilot switching on the seatbelt signs due to turbulence. This seems to happen more often, even on short-haul flights.
Climate change is affecting air travel in several ways:
- Flight delays and cancellations: Extreme weather events like hurricanes, heatwaves, and snowstorms are increasing in frequency. Airlines report that weather-related delays now account for over 70% of flight disruptions.
- Hotter runways: Higher temperatures reduce air density, requiring longer runways for takeoff. In extreme cases, flights may be delayed or weight-restricted (e.g., passengers or cargo offloaded).
- Melting tarmac risk: Some airports, like London’s Luton, have already faced melting runways due to extreme heat.
- Changing flight times: Jet streams, which influence flight duration, are shifting due to climate change. For example, eastbound transatlantic flights have been recorded arriving over an hour early, while westbound flights face stronger headwinds, leading to delays and increased fuel consumption.
Safety of Air Travel in Extreme Weather
- Storms and hurricanes: Flights are often rerouted or canceled, but aircraft are built to withstand turbulence and lightning strikes.
- Heatwaves: Planes can still operate, but weight restrictions and delays are common.
- Snowstorms: Modern de-icing technology allows safe travel, but severe blizzards can shut down airports.
Refunds for Weather-Related Cancellations
- Airline policies vary: Most airlines do not offer refunds for weather cancellations, only rebooking.
- EU & US laws: EU261 allows compensation for delays over 3 hours unless due to “extraordinary circumstances.” In the U.S., airlines must refund passengers for canceled flights, even due to weather.
We hope the above information provides you with some more insight into the effects of climate change- travel safely!
Written with a ♥ for travel
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