American Airlines has announced it was forced to cancel hundreds of flights over the weekend with further disruptions slated for this week, as a sudden surge in travel demand has left the airline industry struggling to ramp up its labour force.
According to data published by Flightware.com, American Airlines was forced to cancel 123 flights and delay another 591 flights on Saturday. Then, on Sunday, the airline cancelled a total of 180 flights, or approximately 6% of its airline service, while delaying over 540 flights. This week, passengers should anticipate additional flight cancelations, as the airline has eliminated another 94 flights for Monday and another 54 for Tuesday— numbers which are likely to multiply as the broader airline industry grapples with a sudden surge in summer travel plans.
The elevated number of flight cancellations were the result of the airline industry still attempting to recover from the pandemic. Thousands of employees were furloughed or sent into early retirement during the onset of stringent travel restrictions at the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis; now with the easing of restrictions and a resurgence in travel demand, those airlines are struggling to refill those vacant positions.
However, the labour shortage is not only affecting air carriers. Earlier this month, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) cautioned that it anticipates significant staffing shortages across 131 airports, and even asked its office workers to volunteer for front-line duty.
Information for this briefing was found via Flightware.com and the TSA. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
