Flight Delay
Listen to the following audio
Answer the following questions
What caused the delay for Flight 267?
What does the phrase “held up by air traffic control” mean in this context?
How long is the delay expected to last?
What words or phrases show that the speaker is trying to stay positive?
What options or support are offered to passengers during the delay?
Read the transcript if needed
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This is an announcement for Flight 267 to Chicago. Due to severe thunderstorms in the area, our departure has been held up by air traffic control. We know this delay is inconvenient, but not all is lost. The new estimated departure time is 6:45 p.m., about two hours later than planned. In the meantime, complimentary snacks and drinks will be available at the gate, and staff are here to help with questions or rebooking. Thank you for your patience.”
How would you use the follow expressions?
Idiom: Not all is lost – used when a situation seems bad but there is still hope.
Examples to use:
“The flight was delayed, but not all is lost — they gave us snacks.”
“We missed the first deadline, but not all is lost. We can still finish.”
“The recipe didn’t look pretty, but not all is lost. It tasted great.”
Phrasal Verb: Hold up – can mean to delay, support, or (informally) rob.
Examples to use:
“Traffic always holds up the bus.”
“An accident held up traffic yesterday.”
“The line is holding up because the computer is slow.”
“The game was held up by rain.”
