FORT WORTH- American Airlines (AA) is under scrutiny following a disputed flight delay from London Heathrow (LHR) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD), which later impacted a connection to Miami International (MIA).
The airline attributed the delay to air traffic control, but official flight records suggest maintenance issues were the root cause.
The dispute centers around UK261 regulations, which mandate compensation for delays caused by airline-controlled issues. Despite clear documentation indicating a maintenance delay, American Airlines denied a passenger’s claim, citing external factors as the reason.
Photo: By Tomás Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – N803AL American Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner s/n 40621, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63558701American Airlines Flight Delay
The controversy began with American Airlines (AA) flight AA91, scheduled from London Heathrow (LHR) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD). The aircraft operating the flight, N842AA, arrived late due to a prior maintenance delay while operating AA98 the previous day.
The knock-on effect resulted in a missed connection to Miami International Airport (MIA), extending the passenger’s arrival time by approximately 10 hours.
ExpertFlyer, an aviation tracking platform, confirmed the reason for the delay as:
“LATE ARRV A/C DUE TO PRIOR MAINTENANCE DELAYS.”
Despite this, American Airlines’ customer relations team claimed the delay stemmed from air traffic control issues, citing ground holds and congestion.
The passenger’s initial compensation request under UK261 was rejected on this basis, even though maintenance-related delays fall squarely within the airline’s responsibility.
Photo: Clément AlloingAmerican Airlines Response
In a formal response, American Airlines stated that AA91 was delayed by 81 minutes due to air traffic control and that any maintenance was performed “opportunistically” during that hold.
However, the timeline and documentation contradict this version. The aircraft’s inbound delay due to unresolved maintenance clearly triggered the subsequent cascade of scheduling problems.
The passenger responded with verifiable evidence, pointing to the aircraft’s disrupted rotation pattern:
- AA2012, AA2321, and AA98 all experienced significant delays the previous day.
- The delay propagated to AA91, setting off a chain that ended in a missed connection.
According to OMAAT, American Airlines’ internal notes explicitly mention the delay’s origin as maintenance. This evidence contradicts the airline’s external narrative, suggesting a deliberate effort to avoid compensation responsibilities.
Photo: Cado PhotoLegal and Ethical Considerations
Under UK261, passengers are entitled to compensation if delays are caused by issues within the airline’s control, such as maintenance.
Air traffic control, weather, and other extraordinary circumstances are valid exemptions, but they must be substantiated.
In this case, the airline’s attempt to shift blame from a documented maintenance issue to air traffic disruptions is not only misleading but potentially violates consumer protection laws.
The use of scripted, vague explanations without regard for actual flight logs raises concerns about industry practices in handling delay claims.
Furthermore, the response time and messaging from American’s dedicated claims team suggest a strategic approach: stall claims, deny based on loosely interpreted rules, and rely on customer fatigue.
Photo: Cado PhotoBroader Industry Pattern
American Airlines is not unique in this approach. Many carriers adopt similar tactics to minimize payouts under EU and UK aviation laws. The difficulty in obtaining compensation even when rules clearly apply has led to the rise of third-party claim agencies.
However, the documented accuracy of internal flight data makes American’s stance hard to justify. It’s troubling to see major airlines downplay their accountability despite clear evidence.
As a result, travelers are advised to gather documentation and persist with legitimate claims, including escalating to national enforcement bodies if necessary.
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The post American Airlines Blames ATC For London to Chicago Flight Delay appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
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