Long Delay on Plane ‘Unacceptable’

By Bloomberg, AP and Staff Reports

JetBlue Airways Corp. tried to calm a maelstrom of criticism after passengers were left waiting on planes at a New York airport for as long as 11 hours during Wednesday’s snow and ice storm.

The airline said Thursday that 10 incoming and outbound flights at John F. Kennedy International Airport were “significantly delayed” with customers on board during the storm. Reasons included congestion, frozen equipment and an effort to keep planes ready to go in case the weather broke, said JetBlue spokesman Bryan Baldwin.

More than 250 of JetBlue’s roughly 500 flights nationwide were canceled Wednesday, but “fairly normal” service resumed Thursday, he said.

Calling Wednesday’s delays “unacceptable,” the airline planned to offer the affected passengers refunds and free flights.

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