Phoenix-Bound Travelers Deal with Canceled Flights at Hector International

Plans for some holiday travelers are up in the air after their flight is canceled for the second day in a row.

For many people at Hector International Airport, holiday travel has been a breeze, but for some people, it’s been a monumental pain in the rear.
 
It’s supposed to be a joyous Christmas in Phoenix for the Becker family.

They were in good spirits, despite their flight being canceled on Tuesday.
 
“Frustrating,” says father Donnie Becker. “We sat here for six hours yesterday. Then at 4:30 they told us we couldn’t go.”
 
Air travel appeals to them. They don’t have to deal with the snow during a long drive.
 
“The weather. Being convenient. Just getting there right away,” Becker adds.
 
Shortly after we spoke to the family, word came from the Allegiant airlines desk. The flight to Phoenix was canceled again.

They were told there’s no pilot. Their patience ran out.

“Pretty angry because it’s the holidays and we can’t even fly out because the pilot missed his flight from Vegas to come pick us up here yesterday,” explains Becker. “Now we can’t go, and there are a lot of upset people here.”
 
“Horrible,” says stranded passenger Rochelle Flatt. “I’ve never had this happen before.”

Airport officials say the cancellations are a small, yet unavoidable part of air travel.
 
“Those things are unfortunate, but they are gonna happen from time to time,” says Municipal Airport Authority Director Shawn Dobberstein.
 
They say most flights have taken off without a hitch during the busy holiday season.
 
Dobberstein adds, “During this time of the year, some of the airlines increase the number of frequencies.”
 
Most travelers avoided major problems. Lanetta Walters arrived on time to greet her granddaughters.
 
“Oh it’s wonderful flying into Fargo,” Walters says. “I would never take the drive to any place else ever again.”
 
But travelers trying to get to Phoenix remain separated from family.
 
My husband’s already down there,” says Flatt, “And I have family down there. My sister, my dad.”
 
The Allegiant website says the Phoenix-bound flight will now leave at midnight.

For some, that’s not soon enough.
 
Flatt adds, “I’m trying to see if I can get on another airline because I don’t want to wait.”
 
Boarding numbers this year have been down about four percent compared to last year, but airport officials still say they expect this to be the second busiest year for the airport.