Flight delays and cancellations may continue until the weekend of July 4th
US airlines face a serious labor shortage, including the cockpit, for domestic and internationalair travelWe are struggling to keep up with the surge in consumer demand.
American Airlines announced on Thursday that it will suspend operations to four small cities: Iowa, New York and Ohio because there are not enough pilots to fly the plane.
"American Airlines has difficulty ending services in Dubuque, Iowa, Islip and Islip, NY, and Toledo, Ohio in response to a shortage of pilots in areas affecting the aviation industry. The decision was made, "the airline said in a statement to CBS Money Watch.
Service changes will take effect on September 7. American Airlines said it would contact customers planning to travel to these destinations after the deadline to assist with other arrangements.
American Airlines has 100 regional aircraft that cannot fly because the cockpit is empty. An airline spokesperson added that he cut routes in anticipation of a foreseeable future shortage of pilots and other crew members.
"The shortage can be imminent for some time, so we are taking bold and innovative steps to tackle this issue head-on," a spokesman said. Said in a statement to.
Consumers enjoyed what the summer air travel season would look like on Father's Day weekend. At this time, thousands ofcanceled the flightPassengers were stranded and luggage was piled up at airports around the world.
Aviation consultant Kit Darby has been working on around the world during the summertravel season, and perhaps since then, due to a shortage of pilots. } Said that the flight would continue to be interrupted. This is because many pilots retire during a pandemic and it can take years to train qualified replacements.
Due to the shortage, airlines are unable to keep many pilots and crew on standby, resulting in more frequent service interruptions.
"If you have normal problems such as airplane maintenance, weather, delays, etc., the chain is as good as it is because there are no additional pilots or flight attendants reserved. It feels much more serious. The weakest link. "
Raising pilot salaries can attract more people to the profession in the long run, but it's not a quick solution to help keep things running smoothly this summer.
"More money doesn't mean more pilots right away. If one company pays more than another, it just moves the pilot, but another pilot creates it. It wasn't done, "said Derby.
"Congestion Challenge"
United launched Thursday from Newark Liberty International's Airpot to reduce delays and cancellations due to "crowd challenges" in New Jersey. Announced that 50 flights a day will be abolished. institution. The cut is equivalent to 12% of United's flights from Newark. The changes that take effect on July 1 will not terminate the service to any of the airline's markets.
United prepared for a surge in summer travel with staffing, but the airline could temporarily adjust its schedule following a service interruption in Newark. He said he requested an exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration.
In a memo circulated to United employees, Chief Operating Officer Jon Roitman said that airlines have the ability to carry out regular Newark schedules, but reduce congestion and delay. Said that he was making changes to minimize cancellations.
"We have planes, pilots, crew and staff to support Newark's schedule, but this exemption allows us to remove about 50 departures daily, minimizing excessive delays. , On-time performance can be improved. Time performance — not just for our customers, but for everyone flying in Newark, "he said.
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