The comments from the industry group could serve as a pre-emptive defense in case airlines again suffer thousands of canceled and delayed flights over the holiday weekend, when travel is expected to set new pandemic-era highs. carriers, said Friday it wants to know FAA's staffing plans for the July Fourth holiday weekend, 'so we can plan accordingly.' He urged airlines to ensure they can reliably operate planned summer schedules.Īirlines for America, which represents the largest U.S. airlines to discuss thousands of recent flight cancellations and delays over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. airlines in April, compared with pre-pandemic levels, as on-time arrivals fell, according to a report by the Department of Transportation.Įarlier this month, Secretary of Transport Pete Buttigieg called a virtual meeting with the chief executives of major U.S. consumers lodged more than triple the number of complaints against U.S. Passengers have taken to social media to complain about how the delays and cancellations affected them, with many claiming they are 'nervous to fly.'Īfter the coronavirus pandemic halted the airline industry, pilots played a major role in getting airlines back up and running, though their pay has not increased since negotiations in 2016. In 2018, before the pandemic, delays and cancellations cost passengers almost $28 billion.Īirlines are not required by law to compensate passengers for a cancellation or delay. But if management doesn't get serious, we'll go the distance to get the contract we deserve,' he concluded.ĭelays and cancellations cost airlines a hefty sum, with delays costing airlines around $74 a minute, or $4,500 an hour.ĭefying tarmac delay rules means airlines are charged $27,500 per passenger, meaning one plane with 200 passengers could cost a $5.5million fine.įor passengers, delays can cost about $47 of their time. 'Our goal is to achieve an industry-leading contract. 'When delays or cancellations happen, the pilots share in our passengers' frustration,' he continued. Demand is back and pilots are flying record amounts of overtime but are still seeing our customers being stranded and their holiday plans ruined,' Ambrosi said. Ambrosi says the union is 'concerned that our customers' plans will be disrupted once again.' The planned protest comes just before July 4 weekend, which is expected to see 3.5 million Americans fly according to AAA. 'As long-term stakeholders in our airline, seeing our operational reliability suffer is bad business and puts the Delta brand at risk,' Ambrosi said. 'In June, the union took an unprecedented step in passing a vote of 'no confidence' in the management teams of Flight Operations, Crew Resources, and Flight Training & Standards for the scheduling issues that continue to plague both customers and pilots.' Meanwhile, our quality of life has eroded due to management's unwillingness to schedule the airline properly,' he continued. 'It's been two-and-a-half-years since our contract became amendable and three-and-a-half years since the Delta pilots last had a pay raise. 'The Delta pilots last signed a new contract in 2016 and are currently flying under work rules and pay rates negotiated over six years ago,' said Jason Ambrosi, a Delta pilot and union official, in the statement. The pilots plan to picket, not strike, on the days they are not scheduled to work in order to bring attention to the issues.įederal law creates a long and difficult process before airline workers can legally go on strike. The FAA has admitted it is understaffed, especially in an important air control center in Florida, which has meant a decrease in the quality of service and an increase in delays and cancellations. Pilots have complained that thinly staffed airlines are asking them to work too many flights, with more pilots reporting fatigue. FlightAware's Misery Map shows cancellations and delays by airport on June 28, 2022

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