Thousands of air travelers leaving Las Vegas over the weekend had their flights delayed because high temperatures affected aircraft performance, and airlines resorted to removing passengers from planes to reduce departure weight.
Flight-tracking company FlightAware said 580 flight delays were reported at Harry Reid International Airport on Friday, Saturday and Sunday when temperatures reached 114, 113 and 112 degrees, respectively. The worst day was Friday, with 284 delays, roughly one-third of the scheduled departures.
There were published reports of passengers being offered up to $2,500 to surrender their seats and take later flights.
The National Weather Service said the higher temperatures result in a higher “density altitude,” the air density expressed as a height above sea level, determined by pressure, temperature and humidity. A high density altitude means the air is thin, which greatly reduces engine power, wing lift and propeller thrust.
Because a high density altitude reduces an aircraft’s efficiency, a plane needs a longer takeoff roll to reach the speed necessary to become airborne. The longest commercial airport runway in the United States is at Denver International Airport at 16,000 feet. The longest runway at Reid International is 14,835 feet.
Flight delays are expected to be a problem this week with temperatures forecast to reach as high as 117 degrees by the end of the week.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.
