The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines en route delays as delays of 15 minutes or more during the length of the flight, after the aircraft has been pushed back from the gate. More specifically, a delay (of 15 minutes or more) incurred on a taxiway, on a runway, en route, or in the airspace holding pattern, is considered an en route delay.

En route delays must not be confused with airline-related delays, which are generally manifested before the beginning of the flight. Such delays can be caused due to mechanical issues, crew shortages, operational failures, and connecting passenger arrivals (for hub-spoke networks).

En route delays

Most commercial flights in the US follow planned schedules. Actual arrival times depend on the delays incurred during the flight. While airlines account for minor forecasted delays based on the regions they operate in, unforeseen circumstances can typically cause en-route delays.

Weather-related delays, as the name suggests, are a result of extreme weather conditions around the airport or along the flight path. Extreme winds, thunderstorms, rain, and snow are some examples of weather-related delays.

Severe weather around airports prevents incoming aircraft from landing safely, and outgoing aircraft from departing on time. Arriving aircraft are usually requested to enter a holding pattern until the weather is cleared out.

Depending on the duration of the delay and the reserve fuel onboard,…