An airplane passes during a partial solar eclipse of Queens, New York City, United States, April 8, 2024.
Andrew Kelly | Reuters
Monday's solar eclipse gives some of the country's smaller airports a moment in the sun.
The Federal Aviation Administration said flights from airports from Burlington, Vermont, to southern Illinois were briefly halted Monday morning ahead of the totality.
Such disruptions are routinely caused by bad weather and heavy traffic in major city centres, but the scenic high demand of the phenomenon disrupted some smaller airports on Monday. The best views of the solar eclipse in the United States extend from Texas through Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio to northwestern New York and Maine, according to NASA.
Passengers and crew members pose for a photo wearing solar eclipse glasses aboard Southwest Flight 1252 from Dallas, Texas to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that passed through the path of totality on April 08, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
The FAA's traffic adjustments give airports time to catch up and avoid congested aircraft parking on the ground.
“We had to close the runway to park the planes,” Alyssa Connell, chief operating officer at Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Illinois, told CNBC. The airport, which has three runways, has booked eclipse flights and on Friday reached its capacity limit of 230 small helicopters and about 45 larger aircraft with larger turboprops. “This is the largest number of aircraft we have ever seen.”
The Statue of Liberty is seen during a partial solar eclipse, with the moon partially blocking the sun, on Liberty Island in New York City, US, April 8, 2024.
David de Delgado | Reuters
Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport in Vermont is scheduled to receive between 100 and 130 general aviation aircraft on Monday, said Dave Carman, deputy director of flight operations. It also expects some scheduled commercial passenger aircraft traffic.
“It's the most we've seen in one day,” Carman said. “It's going to be hectic to get out,” he said.
A Southwest flight attendant wears solar eclipse glasses while giving a safety demonstration aboard Southwest Flight 1252 from Dallas, Texas to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that passed through the path of totality on April 08, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
The eclipse was called a major event in the FAA's morning planning call at its command center in Warrenton, Virginia, according to an agency spokeswoman. Other common obstacles include presidential travel, severe weather, or major sporting and entertainment events.
The Federal Aviation Administration had previously warned pilots of potential turbulence and heavy traffic at a group of airports located on or near the eclipse's path.
Delta Airlines It sold special eclipse flights in which passengers could view it from the sky, one from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Detroit and another from Austin, Texas, to Detroit.
A passenger wearing solar eclipse glasses looks from a private Delta Air Lines eclipse flight over the United States, April 8, 2024.
Leonardo Penassato | Reuters
Other airlines have called in flights that can provide views of the eclipse along the “path of totality.” United Airlines Bookings to San Antonio more than doubled during the eclipse period compared to the same dates last year and were up in Cleveland and Little Rock, Arkansas, he said.
The eclipse is expected to be a boon for hotels, home rentals and other businesses with the influx of tourists.
