Written by: Rashawn Khamari Merchant

All of us interested in air travel saw the story. A few weeks ago, a Delta flight scheduled to leave from Las Vegas to Atlanta never made it off the runway. Delays in flight traffic initially caused the plane to wait; however, the hold-up quickly became dangerous as passengers were held up for 3 hours on a sweltering tarmac. The plane’s air conditioning wasn’t fully functioning, and customers experienced heat-related illness while standing by. Some passengers fainted.

This event speaks volumes to the new reality of climate change and flying. 

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, airlines must provide comfortable cabin temperatures while passengers wait on the tarmac. Extreme heat makes it difficult for air travel to occur safely and efficiently. 

Time has reported that airlines are shedding fuel and limiting passengers. High temperatures make the atmosphere less dense, which requires more energy to lift off. Airplanes will have to be lighter. 

Delta Airlines released a statement affirming additional protocols to address the impact of heat on aircraft. Protocols will be needed, considering transportation workers will require breaks as baggage and ramp workers should also have protection from the sun.

Thanks for reading!

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