Flight Cancellation And Delay
In short
A flight delay happens when an aircraft arrives or departs later than the scheduled time, while a cancellation means the scheduled flight does not run at all.
In plain words
A delay is when your plane is late. A cancellation is when the flight is called off entirely. Both can be caused by bad weather, technical faults, or staff shortages.
A simple example
If your flight was meant to leave at 10:00 but leaves at 10:45, it is a delay. If the airline tells you the flight is not happening at all, it is a cancellation.
Why it matters
These events affect travel plans, connections, and money. Passengers often have legal rights to compensation or food and hotels depending on the cause and length of the disruption.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse a delay with a diversion, which is when a plane lands at a different airport than planned.