Airports across the United States experienced a surge in flights and subsequent runway closures on Monday due to the solar eclipse. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that airports from Burlington, Vermont, to southern Illinois had to temporarily halt arriving flights to accommodate the influx of planes seeking prime views of the phenomenon.
Typically, flight disruptions are caused by bad weather or heavy traffic in major city hubs. However, the high demand for optimal eclipse viewing locations led to congestion at smaller airports. The best views of the eclipse in the U.S. spanned from Texas through Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and northwestern New York to Maine, according to NASA.
In order to manage the increased traffic, the FAA implemented traffic adjustments to allow airports time to catch up and prevent airplane parking congestion on the ground. Alyssa Connell, head of operations at Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Illinois, explained that they had to close one of their runways to park planes due to the overwhelming number of reservations for eclipse flights. The airport reached its maximum threshold of 230 small propeller aircraft and approximately 45 larger jets and turboprops.
Burlington International Airport in Vermont also experienced a significant increase in general aviation planes, with an expected arrival of 100 to 130 on the day of the eclipse. Dave Carman, deputy director of aviation operations, described it as the busiest day the airport has ever seen. He anticipates that it will be challenging to manage the departure traffic after the event.
The FAA prioritized the eclipse as a major event during its morning planning call at its command center in Warrenton, Virginia. This level of attention is typically reserved for obstacles such as presidential travel, severe weather, or major sports and entertainment events. Pilots were previously warned about potential disruptions and heavy traffic at airports along or near the eclipse’s path.
Some airlines capitalized on the eclipse by offering special flights that allowed passengers to view the phenomenon from the sky. Delta Air Lines, for example, sold eclipse flights from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Detroit and from Austin, Texas, to Detroit. Other airlines also highlighted flights that would provide views of the eclipse along the “path of totality.” United Airlines reported a significant increase in bookings to San Antonio around the eclipse compared to the same dates last year, as well as surges in Cleveland and Little Rock, Arkansas.
The eclipse is expected to bring substantial economic benefits to hotels, house rentals, and other businesses as tourists flock to witness the event.
In conclusion, the solar eclipse caused an influx of flights at airports across the United States, leading to temporary runway closures and parking congestion. Smaller airports that offered prime views of the phenomenon experienced unprecedented levels of traffic, while major airlines capitalized on the event by offering special eclipse flights. The eclipse is anticipated to bring economic benefits to various industries as tourists travel to witness this natural phenomenon.
