MSP spared from nationwide flight delays

Article by: BOB VON STERNBERG , Star Tribune
Updated: November 19, 2009 - 11:07 PM

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Flights at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport weren't affected by a glitch in the computer system that collects airlines' flight plans which caused widespread flight cancellations and delays nationwide this morning.

"Flights are still going out and we're not really seeing a large impact here -- yet," said airport spokesman Pat Hogan.

Hogan said the FAA notified airport officials shortly before 9 a.m. and said the computer problem had been fixed.

According to the FAA's flight delay reporting system, delays at the Twin Cities airport were averaging less than 15 minutes this morning.

Delta Air Lines, which dominates traffic at the Twin Cities airport, also has been affected by delays and cancellations, a company spokeswoman said, adding, "operations are slowly returning to normal and we are working with impacted passengers."

As of 10 a.m., the airport's website reported that nine arriving Delta flights had been delayed, along with five departures.

None of the six daily flights operated by AirTran -- which experienced severe delays in Atlanta -- was delayed.

With air traffic controllers having to use faxes or e-mails to send flight plans, the process takes longer and could compound delays as the day goes on, Hogan said.

"That's the big concern now," he said.