Chaos at the airport: Passengers were paid thousands of dollars to avoid flying

The extreme heat in Las Vegas, with temperatures reaching 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius), disrupted flights at Harry Reed International Airport, with about 580 delays and cancellations, and airlines were forced to ask passengers to disembark from full planes due to weight restrictions. In some cases, passengers were offered vouchers of up to $2,500 (about NIS 9,200) to give up their seats and not fly anywhere.

“We were offered $2,500 to volunteer to get off the plane because of weight restrictions caused by the weather, which is something I’ve never experienced,” a passenger named Trish told KSNV, describing a United Airlines flight on which, she said, about half the passengers were asked to disembark. She arrived at the airport at 1 p.m. and only managed to get home around 8 a.m. the next day.

In a video that went viral, an American Airlines representative can be seen asking fewer than 50 volunteers to give up their seats, as temperatures outside were around 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius). On another American Airlines flight, which was already full of seated passengers, 32 were asked to disembark voluntarily because the plane couldn’t take off due to heat restrictions.

“Either 32 people decide to change their plans, or we all change our plans,” said a passenger on his way to Texas. “This is sensational. This is crazy.” The flight eventually took off after enough passengers agreed to stay behind.

American Airlines confirmed that the extreme heat forced it to make an extraordinary weight reduction: “When temperatures are exceptionally high, we — like other airlines — may be required to reduce the weight of an aircraft to ensure it can fly safely,” the company said.

The Federal Aviation Administration explained that extreme heat makes the air less dense, reducing the lift of aircraft wings and forcing planes to use more ground travel to take off. In such cases, airlines can choose to either offload cargo or passengers, or reduce fuel, which could require an additional refueling stop.