The temporary grounding of all United Airlines flights this morning, due to a glitch in the airline’s computer system, had little impact at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, says airport spokesman Jim Caldwell.
While an estimated 3,500 flights were being affected by the grounding nationwide—with delays reaching about 235 domestic and 138 international destinations—just one flight from Baton Rouge to Houston was delayed.
“Our first two United flights to Houston this morning, the first at 5:25 and another at 7, were able to depart before the grounding was issued,” Caldwell says. “The third, which was scheduled to depart at 9:18, was delayed. But I’ve been told by the United general manager that it should be departing soon.”
United lifted the groundings around 9:20 a.m. According to the Baton Rouge airport’s website, the lone delayed flight to Houston was in the air as of 10 a.m. The only United flights available at the Baton Rouge airport are to and from Houston.
—Steve Sanoski
