Houston, Aug 7 (PTI) A sweeping technology outage forced United Airlines to ground flights across the US, causing widespread delays and cancellations that affected thousands of passengers — including many from the Indian diaspora flying home for weddings, family visits, or returning to work after summer. The glitch, traced to the airline’s aging Unimatic system used for flight dispatch and load planning, brought operations at major hubs to a halt for several hours on Wednesday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that United requested a nationwide ground stop, which has since been lifted, but delays were still rippling across the network on Thursday. United called it a “controllable delay”, pledging to cover hotels and related costs where needed, and emphasized that the outage was not cybersecurity-related. “Safety is our top priority, and we’ll work with our customers to get them to their destinations,” the airline said in a statement. FlightAware, a website tracking flight disruptions, reported that about 35 per cent of all the airline’s flights were delayed and 7 per cent were cancelled Wednesday. United’s travel alert warned of disruptions through the weekend at key US and international airports including Newark, Houston, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Orlando, New York, Honolulu, Guam, London, Frankfurt and Munich. Among those impacted was Ishya K, a young consultant, originally from Houston, and now working in Manhattan, who had flown over the weekend to visit her family. Her evening flight to New York’s LaGuardia (LGA) was first delayed for hours and then abruptly cancelled just before midnight. “There was so much chaos at the airport as United didn’t know what was going on.They finally told us around 11 pm that we weren’t flying out,” she said. “I reached home past midnight after hours at the airport, and now I’ve been rebooked for a late flight today and hope there are no more delays.” Others missed international connections altogether. Michael Tran, who was headed to Japan from Houston via San Francisco, was stranded overnight and unsure whether he’d make it in time for a long-planned trip. For the Indian-American community, peak summer travel collided with deeply personal commitments. Nisha Mehra, a professional, originally from Delhi, missed her flight to India — and with it, the first wedding in her family she would have attended in a decade. “This was my chance to reconnect with my family in Chandigarh after so many years,” she said, tearing up at the terminal. “I had my bags packed with gifts for all the cousins. Now I’m hoping I can get there before the last event.” Passengers across the country described hours inside aircraft after landing, waiting for gates to open due to a system-wide standstill. “The first hour, people were already walking around the cabin because there was nothing to do,” said one passenger. “Eventually they found a gate, but it still took another 45 minutes to get there.” The FAA said it continues to assist United in resolving the backlog. “We’ve offered full support to help address their flight backlog and remain in close contact,” the agency said. United apologised publicly via social media. “Hey there, we apologise for the travel disruption today,” it said in response to customer complaints. “Our teams are working to resolve the outage as quickly as possible.” While operations are slowly resuming, United warned that passengers flying in or out of affected cities may continue to face delays.
Home»AIRLINE NEWS» American Airlines Expands Philadelphia’s Reach with New Flights to Budapest and Prague Starting Summer 2026: All You Need To Know
Published on
August 8, 2025 |
By: TTW News Desk
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is about to see an exciting new addition to its international flight routes. American Airlines has announced it will begin offering direct flights from Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague starting in summer 2026. The new routes are set to enhance Philadelphia’s growing network of international flights, giving travelers more convenient options to visit two culturally rich European destinations.
A Step Toward More Global Connectivity
With these new direct flights, American Airlines is positioning Philadelphia as a central hub for travelers looking to explore Europe. The airline’s Vice President of PHL Operations, Lakshman Amaranyaka, emphasized that this expansion is part of a broader effort to connect Philadelphia with more global destinations. He stated that the addition of Budapest and Prague will not only provide travelers with access to the unique attractions in Hungary and the Czech Republic but also increase the airline’s offerings across the Atlantic.
Budapest: The Heart of Europe’s History and Culture
Hungary’s capital city of Budapest boasts of its unique thermal baths, stunning architectural sites, and an intriguing historical heritage. The city is also well known for the river Danube which divides Budapest into two parts, Buda and Pest, featuring the grand Hungarian Parliament Building and Buda Castle which along with several other sites offer history, relaxation, and adventure. Travelers from the United States will be pleased with the news that American Airlines is the only airline that offers nonstop flights to Budapest.
Prague: A City of Fairytale Charm
Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is known for its iconic medieval architecture, including the famous Prague Castle and the historic Charles Bridge. The city’s fairy-tale atmosphere is complemented by a vibrant cultural scene, with world-class music, art, and food. Prague’s appeal to tourists grows each year, and with this new nonstop service, American Airlines is making it easier than ever for Philadelphia residents to experience the magic of this Central European city.
Expanding European Connections from Philadelphia
This is the third consecutive summer that American Airlines has expanded its European destination offerings from Philadelphia. The airline added Nice, France, and Copenhagen, Denmark to its route network in 2024. This year, Milan and Edinburgh also became directly accessible from PHL. These changes highlight American Airlines’ efforts to further develop its European network and strengthen its position in the international market, thus bringing greater appeal to Philadelphia International Airport.
The flights to Budapest and Prague will operate on Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which offer a comfortable flying experience with advanced amenities. American Airlines will begin accepting ticket bookings for these flights on August 11, 2025. Passengers can purchase tickets on the airline’s website or via the American Airlines app.
PHL’s Continued Growth as an International Gateway
The incorporation of Budapest and Prague further augments PHL’s stature as a global gateway. “Atif Saeed, CEO of PHL, noted the incorporation of these routes would give travelers from Philadelphia added nonstop travel options on a wider selection of as well as popular European stops. The Growth of PHL Airport has been steady over the years, and the new routes represent yet another leap towards establishing it as a primary U.S. hub for international travelers.
American Airlines adding nonstop service from Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague is a boon not only for Philadelphia travelers, but for the wider region as well. The new service is anticipated to help stimulate the local economy as well as create jobs and tourism in both Budapest and Prague. The new routes are expected to generate flights for a diverse array of travelers, including business travelers, tourists, and travelers visiting friends and family.
Premium Experiences for Philadelphia Travelers
In addition to expanding its European flight options, American Airlines is offering new premium services for Philadelphia travelers. For flights to London, the airline has introduced Flagship Suite seats, providing a more luxurious and private flying experience. These seats will also be available for flights to Zurich, starting in September 2025. This enhanced premium experience further underscores American Airlines’ commitment to offering Philadelphia passengers a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience.
Why You Shouldn’t Miss These New Routes
For travelers based in Philadelphia, there are new updates on travel options. New flights add considerable flexibility as you can now directly travel to stunning cities like Prague and Budapest. Accessing these cities is considerably more customer friendly now that the flights are non-stop.
Both Budapest and Prague offer a mix of modern attractions and historical sites, appealing to a wide range of interests. These cities are growing in popularity, and now, with American Airlines offering direct flights, there’s no better time to visit.
Final Thoughts
The expansion of American Airlines’ operations in Philadelphia with the addition of direct flights to both Budapest and Prague opens up even more possibilities for American travelers to visit Europe. The nonstop flights will undoubtedly enhance tourism and business travel to and from Central Europe starting in the summer of 2026. Don’t forget to mark August 11, 2025, on your calendar to purchase tickets for these flights.
Rate of decline on a year-over-year monthly basis has started to moderate.
New data from multiple sources show that the trend of British Columbians travelling less across the border to the U.S. is continuing–by land and by air.
Data from the Cascade Gateway Border Data Warehouse identifies this trend has been in effect for six consecutive months on a year-over-year basis.
It tracks southbound traffic by vehicles with B.C. licence plates at four land-border crossings and found a 28-per-cent annual decline in crossings in July: from 187,661 to 135,620.
This follows year-over-year monthly declines in that traffic of:
43 per cent in June;
47 per cent in May;
51 per cent in April;
43 per cent in March; and
29 per cent in February.
This is part of a larger trend of Canadians avoiding travel to the U.S.–perhaps in part as a reaction against U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies and threats to Canadian sovereignty.
The Vancouver Airport Authority this week released data for June that found a 4.6-per-cent rise in overall passengers year-over-year but a 1.1-per-cent decline in travel on flights between that airport and American destinations.
Other ways of tracking travel similarly show fewer Canadians in the U.S.
According to Airalo, which sells eSIM cards for electronic devices, demand from Canadians for U.S. eSIMs is down 28 per cent since November 2024.
The company this week told BIV that there was a 16.3-per-cent decline in demand for those eSIMs in the last three months of 2024, followed by a steeper 26.1-per-cent drop in the first three months of 2025.
Flair Airlines CEO Maciej Wilk told BIV in late July that he has heard some speculate that visits to the U.S. have fallen off a cliff, but the reality is more nuanced.
“Don’t get me wrong–this is still a very significant drop, and this requires a reaction,” he said. “However, it’s not that the transport market has collapsed entirely.”
He said his airline was one of the first in Canada to react to this market shift, and that in late February and early March it “redeployed a lot of our capacity to mostly the Canadian domestic market.”
One change, for example, was to increase its frequency between Vancouver and Calgary to five times per day, up from three times per day.
Reductions in flights to the U.S. included halting its seasonal flights to Palm Springs before April, instead of in April, Wilk said.
The pivot has not been a complete shutdown.
“We suspended Palm Springs and Phoenix, but we’re still flying to Fort Lauderdale, to Orlando, to Los Angeles and to San Francisco, so all of those destinations are staying.”
Other airlines have done similar things.
Air Canada’s, for example, launched inaugural flights between Vancouver International Airport and Manila on April 1, and its executives spoke about reducing U.S. flights during a call with analysts earlier this year.
The airline’s non-stop Vancouver route to Washington, D.C., for example, no longer exists.
Instead that route has been “modified” so it can be done via a stop in Toronto, Air Canada spokeswoman Angela Mah told BIV in April.
Air Canada, WestJet, American and More Airlines Face New Travel Disruption as Over Dozens of Flights Cancelled at Toronto Pearson Airport in Canada Impacting Routes Including Vancouver, Copenhagen, San Francisco and more
Home»AIRLINE NEWS» Air Canada, WestJet, American and More Airlines Face New Travel Disruption as Over Dozens of Flights Cancelled at Toronto Pearson Airport in Canada Impacting Routes Including Vancouver, Copenhagen, San Francisco and more
Published on
August 8, 2025 |
By: TTW News Desk
Image Credit Air Canada
At this time, Toronto Pearson International Airport is undergoing considerable operational challenges, with 138 noted flight delays and 12 flight cancellations reported across various airlines. The majority of delays and cancellations are on routes to and from major cities, including Vancouver, San Francisco, Chicago, LaGuardia, New York, and even international cities like Copenhagen and Regina, San Francisco, and Charlottetown. Air Canada appears to be the most affected, with 64 delayed flights and 5 cancellations, alongside other United Airlines, Air Canada Rouge and Jazz which also reported delays and cancellations on their routes. Passengers who are traveling to and from the impacted cities are advised to confirm their flight status before arriving at the airport.
Flight Disruption at Toronto Pearson International Airport
Today at Toronto Pearson International Airport, several airlines have reported significant delays and cancellations. Air Canada has been the most affected, with 64 delayed flights, making up 18% of its departures, and 5 cancellations, representing 1%. Air Canada Rouge experienced 4 cancellations (4% of its flights) and 11 delays (12%). United Airlines reported 2 cancellations (11% of its total flights) and 5 delayed flights (27%).
Jazz had 1 cancellation (0%) and 16 delays (12%). Other carriers with cancellations include British Airways (1 cancellation), Cathay Pacific (2 cancellations), and China Southern Airlines (1 cancellation), with 25-50% of their flights impacted. Lufthansa, Endeavor Air, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, Flair Airlines, PSA Airlines, Korean Air, KLM, and Egypt Air also had delayed flights, ranging from 1 to 2 delays each. Airlines like Porter Airlines, Republic, Air Transat, and WestJet saw fewer delays, with Air Transat and American Airlines having 7 delays each (18% and 6% respectively).
The most affected routes from Toronto Pearson International Airport today include flights to Vancouver, Copenhagen, Chicago, Regina, San Francisco, LaGuardia, New York, and Charlottetown, with numerous delays and cancellations reported across these destinations.
A Closer Look at the Disruptions
Airlines and the Extent of Delays The delays and cancellations have impacted a variety of airlines operating at Toronto Pearson. The delays are primarily due to a combination of factors, including weather conditions, air traffic control constraints, and operational challenges. Air Canada, the country’s largest carrier, has seen the highest number of delays, with 64 delayed flights, accounting for 18% of their total departures. Additionally, the airline had 5 cancellations today, contributing to 1% of their total flights. Other carriers with significant delays include Air Canada Rouge, United Airlines, and Jazz, which have also experienced notable disruptions.
A Breakdown of the Cancellations Among the 12 cancellations, Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge saw the most, with the former having 5 cancellations and the latter contributing 4. This is followed by United Airlines, which had 2 cancelled flights. Other carriers affected by cancellations include British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Ethiopian Airlines, with fewer cancellations reported across the board. While the situation at Toronto Pearson remains dynamic, travelers should expect potential ripple effects throughout the day.
How Major Airlines Are Handling the Disruptions
Air Canada’s Efforts to Manage Delays and Cancellations Air Canada, as the largest airline at Toronto Pearson, has been at the forefront of handling the disruptions. Despite the significant number of delays and cancellations, the airline is working to accommodate affected passengers by providing alternative flights and compensation where applicable. According to a statement from the airline, they are committed to minimizing inconvenience and ensuring that passengers reach their destinations as quickly and comfortably as possible.
United Airlines and Other International Carriers United Airlines has also seen substantial delays, with 27% of their flights delayed today. The airline, along with other international carriers such as British Airways and Lufthansa, has been actively communicating with passengers, advising them of any changes to their flight schedules. Passengers traveling on these airlines are advised to stay updated via the airline’s mobile app or website, as real-time updates on delays and cancellations are being provided.
Impact on Travelers and Tips for Navigating the Disruptions
Passenger Advice for Today’s Travel With such a high number of delays and cancellations, it is crucial for passengers traveling through Toronto Pearson to stay informed. Checking the status of your flight regularly is the best way to ensure you are prepared for any changes. Airlines are increasingly offering mobile alerts to notify passengers about gate changes, delays, and cancellations in real time, which can help reduce stress during the travel process. Passengers experiencing significant delays need to reach out to their airline representatives for assistance with rebooking or compensation.
Potential Long-Term Effects on Toronto Pearson’s Operations The ongoing delays and cancellations at Toronto Pearson could have a longer-lasting effect on travel operations, especially for flights departing in the next few days. The airport, which serves as a critical hub for both domestic and international flights, could continue to experience backlogs as airlines work to catch up on delayed schedules. Travelers are advised to allow extra time for check-in and security screening, as the volume of affected passengers may lead to longer wait times.
What’s Next for Toronto Pearson Airport?
Looking Ahead to a Busy Summer Season As summer approaches, Toronto Pearson International Airport is expected to see even more traffic, which may put further strain on airport operations. Airlines, including Air Canada, WestJet, and others, are working to increase their preparedness to handle the expected surge in passengers. However, today’s disruptions highlight the need for airlines and airport authorities to enhance operational efficiency, particularly during peak travel periods. Travelers should expect continued updates regarding airport operations as Toronto Pearson adapts to these challenges.
Preparing for Ongoing Disruptions
Traveling through Toronto Pearson International Airport today can be stressful due to a high number of delays and cancellations. With 138 delays and 12 cancellations, passengers are advised to keep up with real-time updates from their respective airlines and to remain flexible in case of further changes. Air Canada, United Airlines, and other carriers are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, but passengers should anticipate potential delays through the day. For those traveling internationally or domestically, staying informed is key to navigating this disruption successfully.
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