Delta passengers endured a frustrating delay at Rochester Airport, spending nearly two hours on the tarmac on February 1, despite the flight arriving on time. The delay was not flagged in Delta's system, as it didn't meet their threshold, according to officials. Delta's ground crew is provided by a third-party subcontractor, Unifi, who did not respond to News10NBC's request for clarification. A passenger reported that the pilot provided frequent updates to keep passengers calm, but was unable to communicate with ground control, leading to the extended wait. The airport suggested that the delay might have been due to too many Delta flights arriving simultaneously and insufficient ground crew. Andy Moore, Director of Aviation, acknowledged the issue, stating, 'We talk about better communication between the airport and the airline itself. But at the end of the day, we don’t control what the airlines do or don’t do. We don’t control delays, we don’t control cancellations.' He also mentioned that regular meetings with airline station managers aim to build relationships and mitigate potential issues. A passenger's concern about the plane's fuel capacity to maintain cabin warmth during the delay was addressed by Delta, who stated that ground power is available if needed. Delta invited customers to share their feedback and experiences to improve their services. For accurate flight information, the airport recommends using the airline's app or website. The airport also provided links to related stories on tarmac delays, Delta flights, ROC Airport, and flight delays.
