In the past few months, as air traffic has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, airports and airlines have struggled to meet the increased demand. CBS News has obtained a letter from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to JetBlue Airways in which he describes the frequent flight cancellations and delays in the United States as “unacceptable.”
Buttigieg stated in his Thursday letter that he had also written to nine of the nation’s other largest airlines.
In the first half of 2022, a projected 24 percent of domestic flights were delayed and 3.2 percent were canceled, according to the letter.
Buttigieg stated that the Department of Transportation is developing a website that will clearly display each airline’s cancellation, delay, and refund policies. The site is slated to go live before the Labor Day holiday weekend.
“When passengers face cancellations and delays, they need clear and honest information on the services your airline will provide to alleviate the expenses and difficulties caused by these disruptions,” said Buttigieg.
In addition, he demanded that airlines provide meal coupons to passengers whose delays exceed three hours and housing to those who must stay overnight due to flight problems “within the control of the carrier.”
“The Department expects airlines to offer quick and responsive customer care during and after flight disruptions, regardless of the reason for the delays or cancellations,” the secretary stated.
Airlines for America, an industry group, issued a statement in response to the letter stating that U.S. airlines face a variety of issues in the wake of the pandemic, including a “tight labor market.” However, it was said that airlines are prepared to collaborate with the Department of Transportation and have been following federal requirements.
Why is there a scarcity of pilots? Not only was there a COVID-19 epidemic.
A4A reported that in 2020 and 2021, U.S. airlines will repay their customers a total of $21.8 billion in cash.
A4A also reported that in the first five months of 2022, weather and the National Airspace System accounted for 63% of aircraft cancellations. In order to maintain customer reliability, airlines reduced their summer itineraries as well.
A4A commented, “Carriers strive to deliver the finest level of customer service and look forward to collaborating with the DOT to continue providing transparency for the traveling public.”
CBS News has contacted several major U.S. airlines for comment. Alaska, American, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, and United are all directing passengers to the A4A statement.
In recent months, there has been an increase in the number of passengers through TSA screening and boarding aircraft at U.S. airports. The Associated Press says that the rate of flight cancellations has increased by about one-third since the same time in 2018, while the rate of flight delays has increased by nearly one-fourth.
The airlines have accused the Federal Aviation Administration for delays, while the FAA has argued that the airlines are flying schedules that they cannot physically maintain, and pilots have criticized the airlines for increasing workloads and flying hours, which they fear could pose a safety risk. Meanwhile, just prior to the Fourth of July holiday, commonly known as “airmageddon,” CBS News recorded a 300 percent increase in passenger complaints against airlines compared to 2019.