Passengers stressed by delayed, canceled flights at Salt Lake International

SALT LAKE CITY — Hundreds of Utahns were still trying to get home Tuesday morning after days of canceled and delayed flights.

What was supposed to be a joyful time of year quickly deteriorated into a living nightmare for many Southwest Passengers at Salt Lake International Airport.

Stranded and delayed passengers have been complaining at the airport since Friday.

“Our flight got canceled and since then we’ve been in a hotel for three days,” traveler Cameron Leach said.

Frustrated traveler Laura Saker said, “We just, I think everybody just wants to get home.”

Airlines canceled nearly 60 flights before noon Tuesday with Southwest accounting for 70% of the cancellations according to flight aware.

Passengers were fed up.

“You know, I know that it happens this time of the year, but again, it’s just the lack of communication, I think is tough,” Saker said. “And now it’s just finding a flight to get home is really the struggle.”

Southwest said it is trying to get ahead. “We’ve been chasing our tails,” one executive said. Now the Department of Transportation said it will investigate why trying to fly out on Southwest Airlines was such a disaster last weekend.

Delays and cancelations will like last into Wednesday Southwest said.

Meanwhile, a group of three, four-legged furballs with wagging tails walked around Salt Lake City International Airport’s terminal trying to lower stress levels for travelers.

Therapy dog teams turn travel stress into smiles at Salt Lake City Int’l Airport

The group was making the rounds to calm anxiety and turn stress into smiles.

“Awww, he’s adorable!” two women exclaimed as they walked up to 7-year-old Newfoundland Gus and his human, Steve Luzkow. The women smiled down on the big bear-looking boy, who wore socks to keep his paws from slipping on the floor and a bib that said, “No, I’m not a Bear.”

“You like it, huh?” the woman said in a baby voice as she gave a good back scratchin’ to Gus.