Alan Price
Coverage of Alan Price in the Nexus archive.
- It’s getting too hot to fly: climate‑driven heat waves are forcing airlines to dump passengers and cargo
Extreme heat caused by climate change is disrupting air travel by forcing airlines to reduce aircraft weight through passenger and cargo removal. High temperatures reduce air density, impairing lift and thrust generation, particularly at high-elevation or short-runway airports. American Airlines compensated passengers for voluntarily giving up seats during a heatwave in Las Vegas.
- Rising temperatures could keep more flights from taking off on time
Rising temperatures disrupt flight takeoffs by reducing air density, making it harder for planes to generate lift and thrust. Airlines may lighten loads by removing passengers or cargo, as seen in Las Vegas where American Airlines offered compensation during extreme heat. Climate change is expected to increase such disruptions, with higher elevation airports and shorter runways facing greater challenges.