What’s the Latest: Air travel schedule should recover by Sunday, FAA says
A nationwide ground stop in the U.S. ended on Friday evening, allowing some flights to resume, though the Federal Aviation Administration warned that recovery would be slow. Air Canada cancelled approximately 250 flights affecting around 27,000 customers as airports in both Canada and the U.S. continued to experience chaos.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating whether user error or a faulty installation caused the disruption during routine maintenance that shifted the system from copper wires to fibre optics. The FAA has received $12.5 billion in funding for upgrades and is seeking an additional $30 billion to ensure the stability and resiliency of its operations.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the FAA has identified the recent air travel disruptions as resulting from “routine maintenance” related to upgrading communication systems, dismissing any links to cyberattacks. Air Canada reported approximately 250 flight cancellations affecting around 27,000 customers, with travel schedules expected to normalise by Sunday according to several airlines.
What remains unclear — It is unknown whether the disruptions were caused by user error or installation mistakes made by L3Harris during the maintenance operation.
FAA anticipates air travel schedule recovery by Sunday
A nationwide ground stop in the United States ended on Friday evening, but the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned that air travel recovery would be slow. By Saturday, authorities reported persistent disruptions at airports across Canada and the U.S., with more than 4,000 flights cancelled by midday. Air Canada alone cancelled approximately 250 flights, affecting around 27,000 customers.
Passengers such as Belinda Fernandes and her partner faced uncertainty at Toronto Pearson International Airport as they awaited a flight to Orlando, Florida. Fernandes recounted, “We met another couple… Their flight is not grounded but ours is.” After receiving scant information from an Air Canada agent, they opted to return home after waiting for hours without resolution.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford indicated that approximately 41,000 flights were scheduled for Saturday, expecting between 4,000 and 5,000 cancellations. He noted, “We will still have delays and cancellations today, but that will set us up for a full recovery tomorrow.” Bedford assured that all passengers would either be re-accommodated or refunded and advised them to contact their airlines directly.
The disruption was linked to routine maintenance as the FAA transitioned the communications system from copper wires to fibre optic lines. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated, “We see zero evidence this was a cyber attack,” but they are investigating potential errors by the contractor, L3Harris, responsible for installing new equipment. Aviation management expert John Gradek commented that the updates were necessary but warned that some upgrades had not been adequately tested.
This incident marked only the second nationwide ground stop for all departures since the September 11 terrorist attacks, with a similar halt occurring in January 2023. The FAA is in the process of modernising its systems, with Duffy advocating for an additional $30 billion to complete these upgrades.