Thunderstorms delay U.S. flights

April 20, 2000
Web posted at: 5:13 PM EDT (2113 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Don't be in any hurry to get to Chicago.

Thunderstorms over Indianapolis snarled air traffic across much of the country Thursday afternoon, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials said, with the delays for flights bound for Chicago's O'Hare International Airport averaging 257 minutes from more than 40 airports in the country. Maximum delays were 399 minutes, the FAA said on its Web site.

"Naturally, delays in one area would have an impact on flights into and out of anywhere," said FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen.

The FAA's Severe Weather Avoidance Program blocks off "big chunks of airspace" in regions where thunderstorms are reported, said an FAA spokesman. Thunderstorms can move quickly, and there is not always a consensus among forecasters where they are going, he said.

Traffic was backed up in several major cities. For example, flights from Miami to New York's LaGuardia Airport were delayed an average of 84 minutes, with a maximum of 153 minutes.

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