Travel for the Fourth of July weekend has begun, sending airlines into a whirlwind as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides and transportation returns to normal. Until 11 am EST on Saturday, there were already cancellations on Saturday in, to or from the United States, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. Saturday’s delays totaled 1,745 nationwide, creating a cascading effect for delayed flyers. Crowds were expected to take to the streets for the festive weekend. AAA predicted that 47.9 million people will travel between Friday and Monday, and about 3.55 million of them are expected to fly. Ticker Security Last change %UAL UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS INC. 36.44 +1.02 +2.88%DAL DELTA AIR LINES INC. 29.52 +0.55 +1.90%AAL AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC. +1.69% Staffing challenges and weather conditions, combined with increased travel demand following the pandemic, have strained the country’s aviation infrastructure. FLIGHTMARE: THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS CANCELED, DELAYED. NEED INSURANCE? Travelers check in at Philadelphia International Airport ahead of the Independence Day holiday weekend in Philadelphia on Friday, July 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke / AP Newsroom) More than 7,100 flights to, from and to the United States were delayed and another 535 canceled on Friday. BEST, WORST STATES FOR SUMMER ROAD TRIPS IN 2022 Last week, thousands of flights were grounded even as carriers cut 15 percent of flights they had planned for the peak summer months — June through August — to make the rest more reliable, according to Airlines for America CEO Nicholas Calio . Travelers wait to claim their luggage at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Friday, July 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong/AP Newsroom) CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT FOX BUSINESS The increased pressure has put airlines in desperate situations — with one airline handing out significant pay days to anyone willing to get off an overbooked plane. Delta Air Lines He reportedly offered passengers $10,000 to get off an overbooked flight from Michigan to Minnesota, the passengers claimed. Travelers wait at a TSA security checkpoint at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Friday, July 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong/AP Newsroom) Inc. The magazine’s technology columnist, Jason Aten, wrote that he was on a flight with his family when a flight attendant asked for volunteers over the intercom. GET THE FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE In a statement to The Hill, a Delta spokesperson would not confirm whether the incident took place, but the spokesperson said there is compensation for ground staff when such circumstances occur.
