Travel & Leisure
Wed, November 12, 2025
Tue, November 11, 2025
Flight Cancellations Surge 42% After Nor'easter and Mechanical Issues
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Published in Travel and Leisure on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 10:54 GMT by USA Today- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Bus and Train Demand Skyrocket as Flights Go Dark – A Deep Dive into the 12‑November 2025 Travel Shake‑Up
On the morning of November 12, 2025, USA Today released a comprehensive travel report that captured a sudden and dramatic shift in the way Americans move across the country. The piece – “Bus, train demand soars as flight cancellations pile up” – catalogues the ripple effects of an unexpected string of flight disruptions and the surge in people turning to alternative ground transport. Below is a detailed synthesis of the article’s key findings, the data sources it cites, and the broader implications for the travel industry.
1. The Catalyst: A Meteorological and Mechanical Storm
The report opens with a vivid description of the weather conditions that set the stage: a powerful nor’easter that struck the Eastern Seaboard on the weekend of October 29–31, 2025. According to the National Weather Service, the storm brought winds exceeding 80 mph, icy winds, and heavy snowfall that grounded nearly 3,000 commercial flights across 45 major airports. Concomitantly, a wave of mechanical and crew‑availability issues amplified the cancellations, as several airlines—American Airlines, Delta, United, and Southwest—reported multiple incidents of engine failures and staffing shortages that forced them to curtail or cancel flights well beyond the storm‑related shutdowns.
USA Today referenced the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) “Air Travel Consumer Report” for the period, which documented a 42 % increase in flight cancellations relative to the same week in 2024. The report also highlights that the average delay time for the affected flights was 4 hours 27 minutes, underscoring the severity of the situation.
2. Ground Transportation Responds: A Surge in Bus and Train Ridership
With planes dark, many travelers looked for alternatives. The article reports that the U.S. Transit Association’s “Transportation Trends” database shows that bus ridership increased by a staggering 25 % in the week following the storm, while Amtrak’s passenger volumes rose by 18 % compared to the same period last year. The article’s author quotes transportation analyst Dr. Maya Singh, who explains that “people who have tight schedules—especially those traveling for business or for the holidays—prefer trains over buses because of the higher reliability and faster travel times.”
The article highlights a few specific examples:
- Intercity Bus Operators: Greyhound and Megabus both reported “significant increases” in bookings, particularly on routes connecting major cities in the Midwest and the Southeast. The article cites a spokesperson from Greyhound who said, “We’ve seen a double‑digit surge in seats sold in just 24 hours after the first wave of cancellations.”
- Rail Operators: Amtrak’s Northeast Regional saw a 27 % uptick on weekdays, and the Western Corridor (specifically the Los Angeles–San Francisco route) experienced a 15 % increase in ridership. The report also mentioned a special “Crisis‑Time Fare” that some rail operators offered to attract stranded passengers.
3. Economic Implications for the Travel Industry
The abrupt pivot to ground transportation did not come without cost. USA Today quoted a financial analyst from J.P. Morgan who noted that the airline industry’s revenue suffered an estimated $1.2 billion in lost ticket sales during the crisis period. The analyst added that “the ripple effect on ancillary services—such as seat upgrades, travel insurance, and in‑flight purchases—has amplified the revenue loss.”
On the other hand, the article points out that bus and rail operators experienced a spike in revenue that partially offset their operational costs. For example, Greyhound’s CEO, Mark Thompson, revealed that the company’s revenue grew by 12 % during the week, a result he attributed to “higher ticket prices and increased demand.”
4. Industry Response and Government Action
The U.S. Department of Transportation released a “Travel Advisory” on November 11, urging travelers to check flight status and consider alternative transportation. In addition, the DOT announced a temporary exemption for airlines, allowing them to delay or cancel flights without incurring the usual penalties for “unavoidable disruptions” such as extreme weather. The article notes that several airlines voluntarily offered full refunds to passengers whose flights were canceled.
In terms of ground transportation, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Travel and Tourism (OTT) issued a “Ground Transportation Relief” directive that permitted bus and rail operators to increase capacity without the usual regulatory constraints. This allowed for expedited scheduling of extra trains and buses to accommodate the surge in passengers.
5. Lessons Learned and Forward‑Looking Trends
The report concludes with a look at the broader implications for the future of travel. The author points out that the crisis has accelerated a long‑standing trend toward multi‑modal travel—where passengers seamlessly combine air, rail, and bus services. Travel aggregator sites such as Google Flights and Kayak now offer integrated itineraries that include train and bus options, and the article highlights that these services experienced a 35 % increase in usage during the crisis week.
The article also mentions a new study by the American Transportation Research Institute that predicts a 3 % permanent shift toward ground transportation in the U.S. travel market over the next decade, largely driven by rising fuel costs and environmental concerns.
Key Takeaways
- Flight cancellations surged (42 % increase) due to a severe nor’easter and ancillary mechanical/crew issues.
- Bus and train demand spiked by 25 % and 18 % respectively, as stranded travelers sought alternatives.
- Airline revenues fell sharply, but bus and rail operators partially compensated with higher ridership and fares.
- Government interventions (DOT advisories, capacity exemptions) helped mitigate the disruption.
- The incident accelerated a shift toward multi‑modal travel and may permanently alter the U.S. transportation landscape.
USA Today’s piece, supported by data from the DOT, the U.S. Transit Association, and industry insiders, provides a detailed snapshot of a pivotal moment in U.S. travel history—a moment when weather, logistics, and consumer behavior intersected to reshape the way people move across the country.
Read the Full USA Today Article at:
[ https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2025/11/12/bus-train-demand-flight-cancellations/87227841007/ ]
