Climate Changed
It’s Too Hot for Some Planes to Fly in Phoenix
Scorching afternoon temperatures are too warm for a regional jet.
This article is for subscribers only.
Summer heat can make even the hardiest people wilt and collapse into a pool of sweat. The same is true for the Bombardier Inc. family of regional jets—it can become too hot to fly them when the weather turns extreme.
American Airlines Group Inc. was forced to cancel 50 flights so far this week—43 of them on Tuesday—from its Phoenix hub because the forecast high is 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius). An additional seven flights to Phoenix were delayed Tuesday due to the heat. The 50-to-76 seat Bombardier jets flown by American Eagle are certified to operate at 118 F.