More than 700 flights were disrupted Monday at Logan International Airport, with 442 delayed and 281 canceled as of the afternoon, according to BostonGlobe.com. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a ground delay starting at 7:30 a.m., affecting inbound flights with an average delay of 5 hours and 14 minutes. This ground delay is scheduled to remain in effect until 2:59 a.m. Tuesday.
Causes of Disruptions
The FAA attributed the ground delay to ongoing runway and taxiway construction at the airport. Massport, the agency operating Logan Airport, stated that the disturbances resulted from a combination of the construction efforts and lingering weather effects
from a weekend nor’easter.
The nor’easter deposited between 3 and more than 7 inches of rain across southern New England. Light showers and up to an additional inch of precipitation were forecast through Monday evening as the storm system weakened and moved north.
Operational Challenges
Strong winds prevented aircraft from using a runway that is closed for construction. According to Jennifer Mehigan, a Massport spokesperson, air traffic controllers had to rely on alternative runways, which limited their ability to move planes efficiently. This reduced operational capacity contributed to the extensive flight delays and cancellations observed throughout the day.
Traveler Impact and Weather Outlook
Passengers experienced average inbound
flight delays exceeding five hours, with a total of 281 flights canceled as of Monday afternoon. Massport advised travelers to check the status of their flights before arriving at the airport to accommodate ongoing disruptions. Winds were expected to diminish as the nor’easter weakened, potentially easing operational constraints later in the day.
