Airline cancellations and delays are to be expected as Americans get ready for a patriotic Fourth of July weekend.
Critics are blaming the pilot shortage on vaccination requirements as the travel mayhem enters its second consecutive week.
On Wednesday, more than 500 flights have already been canceled and more than 2,000 have been delayed throughout the US, with Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey topping the list with 45 canceled flights.
The Hill reports that 1,800 flights have been cancelled so far this week in the US, and CBS News reports that more than 5,300 flights were cancelled between June 16 and June 20.
With 48 flights canceled on Wednesday at Toronto Pearson International Airport, the issue has now spread to Canada.
A behind-the-scenes video acquired by ABC News shows hundreds of customers’ baggage neatly arranged in rows on the floor and backed up on a big stationary conveyor belt.
According to a representative for the airport, the reason for the baggage backlog and staff shortages that caused flight delays and cancellations was a “brief technical issue.”
Due to staffing issues and weather-related problems, US airlines are finding it difficult to meet the demand, which is higher than it was last year.
In order to help the sector avoid the difficulties it is currently experiencing, airlines are also blaming the FAA for not having a sufficient summer travel plan in place.
The Bill O’Reilly Show, however, found that the number of pilot applications submitted by airlines has increased significantly since 2020. According to O’Reilly, 8000 new pilots have received certification.
He exclaimed, “They’re lying, they’re lying.” They are simply so chaotic all over.
The Biden Administration is also criticizing the airlines, claiming that they should stick to the schedules they post after receiving billions in stimulus money to survive the pandemic.
In order for tourists to have a trouble-free summer vacation, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated earlier this month that airlines had until July 4 to resolve any problems and iron out any wrinkles.
This weekend, an estimated 48 million Americans are anticipated to travel, with 3.5 million flying.
Delta Airlines said it expected “operational issues” this weekend and that its personnel has been working more overtime than it did in 2018 and 2019 put together, before the pandemic.
It stated that if weekend travel delays occur, travelers will be able to rebook their flights.
Passengers must maintain the same travel locations as the only restriction.
According to CBS, the announcement comes two days before Delta pilots intend to protest in seven significant cities, including New York and Detroit.
Additionally, CBS News reported that this summer, Southwest and Delta each dropped 20,000 flights from their schedules, making it even more difficult for congested airports to accommodate intrepid travelers.
In a recent contract, ALPA, the largest pilot union, also won a 14 percent wage increase over 18 months for United Airlines pilots, who make an average of $160,000 annually.
In the midst of contract discussions, Delta pilots are also requesting schedule changes to lessen interruptions, a wage increase, and greater retirement benefits.
Airlines have come under fire from pilots for making the travel season chaotic by requiring the covid vaccination.
One Southwest pilot stated that he believed the mandate was the primary cause of the protest, which saw 1,300 Southwest personnel picket outside of Dallas Love Field Airport earlier this month.
Pilot Tom Bogart told News Nation, “I think it’s because of the COVID vaccines – they’re still requiring the vaccination for all new applications and if the new candidates indicate they’re not going to get vaccinated, their application gets passed over.”
He claimed that many “very competent applicants” are being disqualified because they are not immunized.
He told News Nation, “The presidential order [for requiring immunizations] is not dead.”
He claimed that although pilots are still “passionate” about flying and “enjoy what we do,” the airlines should be the center of attention rather than the pilots.
You need to question Southwest Airlines about its proactive efforts.
The location where we were last summer is still the same. He stated earlier this month that “we’re still in the same place as we were over the holidays.”
Although airlines have yet to provide a precise figure on how many actually quit, many pilots departed the industry or retired after speaking out against the mandate almost a year ago.
In an interview with Fox Business before Memorial Day, travel expert Brian Kelly predicted that the pilot shortage would only worsen as the summer travel season went on.
The cost of training to be a pilot, he suggested, is another factor that may be contributing to the scarcity.
He admitted to Fox Business in May that being a pilot is very expensive.