Bleak outlook as predicted slew of cancelled flights likely to play havoc with US holiday flights

A very dark shadow has been cast over the forthcoming holiday period in America with major airlines across the country struggling to recruit staff as post pandemic-restricted travel demand surges. Even back in the summer flight cancellations owing to staff shortages were occurring, and the problem has been exacerbated by virtually all major airlines scrambling to boost staffing levels at the same time.

According to REUTERS news agency, Both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines have been adding multiple flights, consequently severely stretching resources. Last weekend American Airlines cancelled hundreds of flights as a consequence of both bad weather and staffing shortages. Last month, the number of flights cancelled by Southwest Airlines stretched into the thousands, costing the carrier over US$75 million, while in August Spirit Airlines was forced to cancel over 2,800 flights. With Thanksgiving looming, Southwest Airlines advised last month that flight bookings for the holiday period stood at pre-COVID-19 levels.

Currently American Airlines is hoping to onboard 4,000 new employees while also recalling 1,800 flight attendants who are currently on long-term leave. Southwest Airlines has indicated it is aiming to increase staffing levels by 5,000 by the end of December. Ticket prices are likely to become victim to the staff shortages as well as a hike in fuel prices, though despite a minimum wage increase to $15.00 an hour and hiring referral bonuses, applicant numbers conversely remain lower than pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile unions have been quick to blame carriers for poor planning which has led to pilots experiencing fatigue and difficulty in finding accommodation.

“We're very concerned that management is stuffing the holiday turkey with uncertainty for the upcoming holiday travel period,” said Dennis Tajer, spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association, which represents pilots at American Airlines. Meanwhile, carriers such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have not suffered a similar fate as they have been able to mitigate a surge for national demand for air travel with a still relatively low demand for international air travel.