flight has been delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flight has been delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to inform passengers or others about a change in the schedule of a flight, indicating that it will not depart or arrive at the originally scheduled time. Example: "Due to inclement weather, the flight has been delayed for two hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The space shuttle flight has been delayed.

The New York Times

You're a high-profile flier, and your connecting flight has been delayed?

The New York Times

Disappointingly for one with such knowledge and ability, his ambition to manage in England's top flight has been delayed.

The Guardian - Sport

Among them are fancy high-technology tricks like a service that will page personal assistants and other wireless devices with word that a flight has been delayed.

The New York Times

Without pushing buttons on the phone handset, callers can speak to navigate menus, check stock quotes or learn whether a flight has been delayed.

The New York Times

When you are trapped in an airport terminal and hear an announcement that your flight has been delayed, you usually have no clue whether you'll be leaving in 30 minutes or three hours.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

The angry passengers' flight had been delayed by 16 hours.

The New York Times

When he reached the gate, D'Antoni learned the flight had been delayed by three hours.

The New York Times - Sports

The engine failure came after the flight had been delayed on July 12 because of engine problems.

The New York Times

"She sent me a text saying she was in Newark and that the flight had been delayed," he said.

The New York Times

The flight had been delayed, and by the time everything was ready for takeoff, the pilot announced that the terminal had been shut down.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When communicating a "flight has been delayed", provide the estimated new departure or arrival time, if available, to manage expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "flight has been delayed" when the flight is permanently called off. Use "flight has been canceled" instead to accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flight has been delayed" functions as a declarative statement. It informs the audience about the status of a flight, specifically that its schedule has been altered and it will not depart or arrive at the originally planned time. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

11%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

7%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "flight has been delayed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to communicate that a flight's schedule has been altered. It predominantly appears in news and media, with neutral register. According to Ludwig, the phrase is perfectly acceptable in written English. When using this phrase, providing additional details such as the new estimated time is advisable. Remember to use "flight has been canceled" if the flight will not operate at all.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flight is delayed

Shorter and more direct, omitting "has been" for brevity.

flight is running late

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the delay.

flight will be delayed

Shifts the focus to the future expectation of a delay.

there is a delay on the flight

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize the existence of a delay.

the flight's departure is delayed

Specifies that the departure is affected.

the flight faces a delay

More formal phrasing, indicating a challenge or obstacle.

the flight is behind schedule

Highlights that the flight is not on time compared to its plan.

the flight's schedule is disrupted

Focuses on the disturbance to the planned timetable.

passengers should expect flight delays

Changes the focus to advice given to passengers.

the flight's arrival is postponed

Indicates that the landing time has been pushed back.

FAQs

What does it mean when a flight is delayed?

When a "flight has been delayed", it means the flight will not depart or arrive at its originally scheduled time due to various reasons such as weather, mechanical issues, or air traffic control.

What can I say instead of "flight has been delayed"?

You can use alternatives like "flight is delayed", "flight is running late", or "flight will be delayed" depending on the context.

What are my rights if my flight is delayed?

Your rights depend on the airline, the country you're flying from, and the reason for the delay. Generally, you may be entitled to meals, accommodation, and compensation for significant delays. Check with your airline for specifics.

What is the difference between "flight has been delayed" and "flight has been canceled"?

"Flight has been delayed" means the flight is postponed and will eventually depart. "Flight has been canceled" means the flight will not operate at all and you'll need to make alternative arrangements.