![]() “The training gaps and the hiring gaps that happened because of Covid will take more than the one year we’ve had so far to work their way through the system.” “If we look at the numbers so far this year we’re seeing improvements, but I don’t think we’re out of the woods yet,” Buttigieg said in an interview last month, referring to flight cancellations. The hope is that fewer flights will ease the burden on overworked controllers and create more slack in the system so airlines can play catch-up when weather or staffing issues creep up.īuttigieg struck an optimistic note at a news conference on Tuesday, pointing out that cancellations were down in the early part of 2023 compared to last year. John Heimlich, chief economist for the aviation trade group Airlines for America, said that commercial carriers are planning to add about 2 percent more seats for the summer travel season while cutting dozens of flights per day, particularly in the New York City area. In March, the FAA announced it would allow airlines to fly fewer flights in the New York City area without penalty, and many airlines volunteered to cut down their daily traffic, with about 87 fewer flights in the New York City area in June and more than 100 fewer flights in July and August. “I’m not sure that’s a model that can last forever, but for now we’ll make do,” said Nicholas Calio, president and CEO of the trade group Airlines for America.īut unlike last summer, which turned into a game of finger-pointing between the airlines and FAA over who was more to blame for delays, this time airlines and the Biden administration say they’re taking steps to collaborate. The airlines acknowledge it’s just a short-term solution. That strategy could help ease the burden on airlines and the air traffic control system, which still has a shortfall in employees, but will mean fewer options for passengers trying to plan travel or rebook after a canceled flight. And this summer, the Federal Aviation Administration has encouraged airlines, perhaps paradoxically, to fly fewer planes that can fit more people. They have hired tens of thousands of people since last year and staffing levels are more than 9 percent higher than they were pre-pandemic. Help us investigate.Īirlines say they can avoid a repeat of last summer, where on-time rates hovered below 75 percent across the board, to Congress’ annoyance. Do you work for an airline or the FAA? We are examining what’s behind dysfunctions in our aviation system, including staffing shortages, flight delays and cancellations.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |