Weather is the single largest cause of flight delays and cancellations worldwide. But while safety is always the top priority, not every weather delay is truly unavoidable or outside of an airline's control. Some carriers may use weather as a blanket excuse to avoid compensating passengers, even when delays could have been prevented.
If you understand which disruptions are really caused by extraordinary weather events and which are simply mishandled by airlines, you can make better decisions and even get compensation.
Are All Weather Delays the Airline’s Fault?
It’s a common myth that airlines are never responsible for weather-related delays or cancellations. While it’s true that no one can control the weather, not all weather disruptions qualify as "extraordinary circumstances” under DOT or US regulations.
Commercial aircraft are built to withstand adverse weather, and pilots are extensively trained to handle a variety of meteorological challenges. In fact, many airports, especially in regions with frequent snow or fog, are well-equipped with de-icing systems, snow plows, and advanced navigation tools to handle these regular occurrences.
So, while snow in Chicago or fog in San Francisco can be disruptive, airlines and airports in these areas are expected to manage these conditions without major operational breakdowns.
How Thunderstorms Disrupt Air Travel
Thunderstorms can cause serious safety issues for flight operations, particularly due to wind shear, hail, lightning, icing, and sudden downbursts known as microbursts. These risks are especially dangerous during take-off and landing, which is why storm activity often leads to delays or cancellations.
That said, not every thunderstorm is disruptive enough to justify grounding flights. Airlines use advanced weather forecasting systems, build extra time into their schedules, and work closely with air traffic control to reroute flights or wait out short-lived storms. These strategies help reduce delays, but when a storm forms suddenly or becomes more severe than expected, disruptions are sometimes unavoidable.
When Airlines Are (and Aren’t) Liable for Thunderstorm Disruptions
Airlines are only exempt from paying compensation for thunderstorm-related disruptions when the conditions are considered “extraordinary,” meaning they pose serious, unavoidable safety threats.
To qualify as extraordinary, a storm must produce hazards like strong wind shear, large hail, or lightning strikes directly in the aircraft’s flight path, making it unsafe to continue operations. In such cases, the disruption is clearly outside of the airline’s control.
However, if a storm is less severe or if the weather was forecasted and the airline failed to plan accordingly (for example, by not allocating buffer time or failing to reposition aircraft) then the disruption might still be considered avoidable. In those cases, passengers may be eligible for compensation.
How Snow and Ice Disrupt Flights
Snow and ice are among the most common winter threats to flight operations, affecting both aircraft and airport infrastructure. Accumulated snow can make runways unsafe, while freezing temperatures may cause ice to form on the aircraft itself. If not properly removed, ice can also add significant weight or disrupt airflow over the wings, increasing the risk of a stall.
Who is Responsible?
Responsibility for managing winter weather is shared. Airlines are responsible for de-icing their aircraft, while airports are in charge of clearing and treating runways. In areas where snow is expected, airports are typically well-equipped with snowplows, de-icing stations, and trained personnel. When things run smoothly, flights can continue with minimal delays.
However, problems arise when winter weather hits airports that are less prepared. Snowfall in regions where winter conditions are rare can easily overwhelm ground operations, resulting in major disruptions. In these cases, delays and cancellations are usually deemed outside of the airline’s control.
When Airlines Are Responsible for Snow and Ice Delays
Even in snowy regions, airlines can still be held accountable if disruptions occur due to poor planning or lack of preparation. For example, if an airline runs out of de-icing fluid or doesn’t have enough trained staff to operate during a snowstorm, particularly in an area where winter weather is expected, the airline may be liable for delays.
Light icing is generally manageable with modern equipment and procedures. But during more intense winter storms, even well-prepared airports and airlines can be pushed to their limits. In those situations, airlines are usually not responsible, as the disruption is considered an “extraordinary circumstance” under US law.
Flight Disruptions Caused by Fog
Thanks to advanced navigational equipment, airplanes can safely fly through dense fog, but take-off and landing poses serious problems. Even with the best airport lighting, runway visibility can be completely obscured when the fog is too dense, and there’s very little the airline can do to help the situation.
When fog reduces visibility below around 2,000 feet, airports will start using Low Visibility Procedures (LVPs). This means that almost all airport operations on the tarmac are slowed, including refueling, taxiing, and baggage handling, plus departure and landings are given more space and time to avoid catastrophes on the runway. The result? Lots of delays. But is there anything airlines can do to mitigate this?
What airlines can do to minimise fog-related delays
Some regions get more fog than others. California and the West Coast of the US, are famous for pea-soup fog that plays havoc with airports, and San Francisco is particularly well known for it.
A December 2024 study by UpgradedPoints found that 42.3% of its delays in San Francisco were caused by weather during the holiday months over the past 5 years. December is particularly challenging, with 50.5% of SFO’s delays attributed to weather disruptions.
But even though airlines can’t do anything to prevent the fog, they do take steps to mitigate delays caused by it.
How airlines prepare for foggy conditions
Because certain airports have fog on a regular, trackable basis, they can adjust their schedules to allow more turnaround time between flights. They can also use aircraft on these routes with Category III Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), making low visibility landings more manageable. They also can use newer planes with advanced avionics and navigation systems.
When Airlines Are Responsible for Fog-Related Delays
Fog is only considered an “extraordinary circumstance” when visibility falls below 2,000 feet and persists despite the use of advanced landing systems like Category III ILS. If a disruption occurs at a fog-prone airport, and the airline has not scheduled adequate turnaround time, failed to equip its aircraft accordingly, or didn’t plan for foreseeable weather patterns, then it may still be responsible for compensating their passengers.
In short, airlines operating at airports that frequently experience fog are expected to plan for it. If they don’t, and passengers are delayed or stranded as a result, compensation could still be owed.
How Wind Affects Flight Operations
High winds, especially crosswinds during take-off and landing, are a serious operational challenge. Unlike some weather phenomena, there’s no single wind speed that triggers cancellations. Instead, the decision depends on several factors including:
- Wind direction,
- Gust intensity,
- Runway length,
- Aircraft type, and
- Whether other conditions like rain or ice are present.
Extreme wind events like microbursts or strong gusts can be particularly hazardous, sometimes exceeding what aircraft or airport infrastructure can safely handle. When this happens, flights may need to be canceled or diverted for safety reasons.
When Airlines Are (and Aren’t) Responsible for Wind Disruptions
Wind-related cancellations may be classified as extraordinary circumstances when the conditions are genuinely unsafe. For example, if wind gusts exceed the limits of the aircraft or the runway, and safety protocols require cancellations, the airline isn’t likely to be held responsible.
However, if the wind conditions are borderline or forecasted well in advance, and the airline cancels for internal reasons (like lack of available crew, unprepared ground operations, or fleet limitations), they may still be liable for compensation.
What You Can Do If Weather Disrupts Your Flight
When your flight is delayed or canceled, your first move should be to ask the airline for a written explanation of the cause. This can be vital evidence if you decide to file a compensation claim later.
Next, do your own research:
- Use apps like FlightAware to verify the presence of weather disruptions.
- Take screenshots of weather conditions and be sure to include timestamps.
- Observe operations at the airport.
If other airlines are flying in and out as usual, your airline’s explanation may not hold up. Keep records of what airline staff say, what you witness on the tarmac, and any weather data. This can all support your claim.
Airline Liability in the US vs. EU/UK
Airlines operating in the US are not held to the same compensation standards as those in the EU or UK. While the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires airlines to provide refunds and basic assistance during delays and cancellations, there is no legal obligation to offer cash compensation, even when the airline is at fault.
In contrast, EU Regulation 261 and UK261 require airlines to pay passengers up to €600 ($650) for avoidable delays or cancellations. This includes situations where the airline failed to prepare for weather conditions that were foreseeable or manageable.
In the US, passengers are entitled to the following when disruptions occur: If a cancellation or long delay is caused by an extraordinary circumstance, airlines in the US must offer a rebooking or a full refund. And while it isn’t required by law, some airlines will help you with food, drinks, and accommodation if you’re left stranded because of an avoidable delay.
Let AirAdvisor Help
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Tools to Help You Out
See our list of FREE tools in the links below:
- Flight Delay Checker
- Free Flight Delay Compensation Calculator
- Free Flight Delay Compensation Letter Template
Resources & Additional Reading
Some extra resources to help you better understand flight delay compensation:
- Delayed Flight Compensation Claim Deadlines
- What are Delay Reversals?
- Should I Accept Cash or Vouchers for a Delayed Flight?
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