More than 14,000 US flights cancelled after ground stop, expert urges travellers to be patient

Air travel in the United States remains hectic because of the lingering effects of Friday's ground stop, and a travel expert says preparation and patience are key for flyers trying to reach their destination.

Brett Snyder, president of the travel planning service Cranky Concierge, said flight schedules will likely not be back to normal until Monday at the earliest, as airlines scramble to get their fleets and crews back to their planned destinations as orderly as possible.

A total of over 14,000 flights were cancelled on Friday and Saturday, according to FlightAware. Around 160 flights on Sunday had also been cancelled as of Saturday afternoon, FlightAware said.

The FAA said the ground stop was instituted due to a telecommunications issue in the air traffic control system. FAA administrator Bryan Bedford said the system is expected to be fully recovered by Sunday.

Snyder told ABC News on Saturday that the point of the cancellations and delays today is to right the ship as quickly as possible, so that by Monday everything is as smooth as possible. The airlines, he said, are trying to get back to normal.

The first thing flyers should consider, Snyder said, is whether it is worth waiting for a delayed flight or whether they should rebook. If the trip was going to be short and fun and not a big deal, he said, he would scrap it.

Snyder said most airlines are offering refunds during this situation, even if the planned flight is only delayed.

American Airlines announced on Saturday that it is adding fare caps across its domestic and short international flights as delays are expected to continue. American, Southwest, Delta and United are all offering travellers waivers.

For those still pushing ahead with their trip, Snyder said it is best to stay at the airport and remain on top of any updates. He recommended downloading the airline's app and keeping an eye on all the alerts associated with the flight.

Flyers should also pay close attention to connecting flights and check whether they are cancelled, he said, adding that airlines are typically good at rebooking customers in those situations. When in doubt, he recommended calling the airline, or talking to an agent if the traveller is at the airport.

Snyder also stressed that ticket holders should remain courteous to the representatives. Airline employees, he said, are going through this just as much as the travellers are, and they are trying to help.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told reporters on Saturday that the federal government is working around the clock to help the airlines and airports navigate through the issues and get service back to normal as fast as possible. In a post on X earlier on Saturday, Duffy said travellers will continue to see some delays and cancellations as carriers reschedule flights and reposition aircraft and crews where they are needed most, adding that the top priority is making sure travellers get home safely to their families as quickly as possible.