US Airline Staffing at Historic High, Yet Flight Delays Persist: What’s the Reason?

US passenger airline employment is now at its highest level in over two decades, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as carriers build up their workforces to meet the huge demand for post-pandemic travel. However, passengers this summer are still facing “unacceptable delays and disruptions” because of a shortage of air traffic controllers in North America.

The IATA, an industry association that represents the world’s airlines, is blaming that squarely on “poor planning” by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NAV Canada, the Canadian air navigation services provider. The IATA said that the two agencies have failed to adequately staff their facilities and have not implemented new technologies to improve efficiency and capacity.

But air traffic control is not the only factor behind the recent air travel woes. Outdated technology, airline staffing issues, bad weather, and Covid-19 protocols have also contributed to flight cancellations and delays. Some airlines, such as JetBlue and American, have faced criticism from their own workers and unions for overbooking flights and imposing harsh disciplinary measures on employees who refuse extra assignments.

Some passengers have also experienced health problems due to extreme heat or hailstorms in some regions. In one incident, an emergency evacuation slide from a United flight fell into a Chicago neighborhood. In another, medical teams were called to a passenger plane on the tarmac in Las Vegas to treat “heat-related discomfort.”

As air travel continues to rebound from the pandemic slump, passengers and workers are hoping for a smoother and safer experience in the skies.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, cnn.com, bollyinside.com, theguardian.com