Originally Posted by
FlightlessParrot
I have always assumed that this statement covers everything from the late arrival of the aircraft because of some problem down the line, through the need to service or replace some part of the aircraft's equipment, to one of the crew not turning up for an untold variety of reasons. In any case, what matters to me is that I feel confident that the airline will not let the flight depart without everything being OK. Otherwise, I'm late, that's bad, nothing to do about it, long explanation changes nothing for me. If I think the airline capriciously cancels flights without caring about the consequences for PAX, I'll never fly with them again (so long, IBERIA), but I don't need a detailed explanation (which could just be some bunch of lies, anyway); I want to believe that they're trying to make it good.
Good points. If delayed, all the pax care about is how and when the airlines is going to get them moving. Detailed explanations about “why the delay” are not necessary.