The travel chaos is not just about Europe. It is an industry-wide problem. There are staffing shortages, strike action, reduced flight schedules and high prices. These are just some of the problems that are causing the craziness. You’ll want to plan your trip as early as possible, especially if you’re traveling during summer.
Staffing shortages
Despite billions in government aid, US airlines continue to struggle with staffing shortages. This shortage has forced airline workers to go on furlough, retire early, and resign. This is a situation that is detrimental to flyers and has led to numerous flight cancellations and delays. In addition to putting travelers’ trips at risk, this shortage also makes it difficult for airlines to handle routine problems, such as thunderstorms.
The lack of pilots is one of the main reasons that many flights have been delayed or cancelled in recent weeks. As a result, thousands of passengers have been forced to wait in nightmare queues. The root cause of this chaos is understaffing, and this issue has been made worse by the fact that security clearances for new workers can take six to eight weeks.
The airline industry has had a difficult time filling all available positions, and the summer season has made the situation worse. Airlines are attempting to overcome the problem by hiring more workers. However, the process can be complex. Airlines must decide whether to hire more people or make the most of existing staff.
The labor shortage also has affected pilots. While American, Delta, and United are still hiring hundreds of new pilots each month, a shortage of these workers is hampering the hiring process. A lack of pilots has slowed the hiring process and resulted in slower flights.
Strikes
Strikes have hit the air transport industry, with many flights cancelled in Europe. The British media has described airports as a “total mess” as tens of thousands of flights have been cancelled. Travel officials have advised holidaymakers to avoid flying. The summer travel season is traditionally the busiest, but this year, many flights have been cancelled as a result of the strikes.
The strikes are expected to continue into the fall. Major airports and airlines continue to be hit by strike action and staffing problems. The strike action on flights by Ryanair staff has been extended until January 7 next year. Baggage-handling staff are also set to take several days of industrial action in August.
In Italy, trade unions have threatened to carry out further strikes this summer after last month’s widespread strike action. In June, dozens of flights were cancelled or delayed as workers held protests over pay and conditions. While air travel disruptions were relatively low in Italy, disruptions in other European countries have caused many flights to be delayed or cancelled. In Italy, franchigia estiva (the ban on strikes) has helped to protect the industry’s reputation, as strikes are prohibited at certain times.
The strikes on air travel in Europe continued in July as well. A strike on air services in France and Germany led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and long queues. The strike also slowed down easyJet, with dozens of flights cancelled and numerous delays.
Reduced flight schedules
Reduced flight schedules continue after summer in many European cities. Some airports are having problems, and some airlines have already reduced flight schedules to cut costs. Some airlines have also begun implementing flight caps, which limit how many people can board flights each day. Several airlines, including EasyJet, have cut their schedules in the face of these restrictions.
Adding to the woes, airlines are struggling with labor shortages and a rapid increase in air traffic. Many flights have been canceled or delayed, which is especially annoying during peak travel seasons. Reduced flight schedules also mean that travelers are missing out on their first getaway in years.
British Airways and EasyJet have already cut thousands of flights from their schedules. Heathrow is also asking airlines not to sell summer tickets, because the airport is already struggling to cope with the increased number of passengers. In addition, British Airways is cutting nearly 30,000 flights from its April-October schedule because of staffing issues.
Another issue with European airlines is that some of their employees are striking over poor working conditions and pay. ATC and ground-handling unions have held strikes in recent weeks, and there is an increasing likelihood that strikes will continue throughout the summer. During a recent strike, about a quarter of flights in France were cancelled. British Airways is also preparing for a staff strike in the coming weeks. And in Italy, pilot unions have also threatened further strikes.
High prices
Airlines’ problems have pushed up the price of travel. Fuel prices are rising, staffing problems are increasing, and aircraft fleets are getting smaller. More people are taking flights, but airlines are struggling to keep up. A recent report by Cowen and New York-based Harrell Associates shows that the cost of air travel is now more than 50% higher than last summer.
While airline companies have benefited from high holiday travel demand, they are also feeling the pinch from higher fuel costs. Airlines are planning to raise their ticket prices, which could translate into higher prices for passengers. Delta Air Lines has already said that it expects to pay $1.94 per gallon of fuel in the third quarter compared to $2.25 per gallon in the last three months of 2017. The cost of fuel is the second largest expense for airlines, behind only pay and benefits.
While high prices are a common factor, they are a definite cause for concern for travelers. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has led to a shortage of planes and staff, which has weighed heavily on airlines’ costs. Meanwhile, inflation and interest rates are weighing on demand for travel. There is no way that the current appetite for flying is sustainable. For example, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global airlines are projected to post a $9 billion loss in 2021 and $42.1 billion loss in 2022. As a result, prices for air travel are rising, and there are fewer options than ever.
Despite the high cost of air travel, many people still expect the industry to deliver the services it promises. According to a report by Hopper, airline delays this summer averaged 25 percent. Many airlines have canceled thousands of flights and slashed schedules in order to avoid the disruptions. Even Heathrow Airport has implemented a passenger capacity cap to keep up with the demand.
Pent-up demand
Airlines are facing pent-up demand, driven by a global pandemic and increased travel demand. However, interest rate rises and inflation are starting to bite into the appetite for travel, and the demand is not sustainable. According to a recent report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), airlines will post losses of up to $9.7 billion in 2022, but they will begin to claw their way back to profitability by 2023.
The recent flight caps implemented at Heathrow and Gatwick airports in the UK have led to further schedule cuts by airlines. EasyJet, which has a large operation in Gatwick and Schiphol, has cut its system capacity by three points in the June quarter and another 10 points in the September quarter.
The problem is compounded by a shortage of staff, and the result is widespread flight cancellations and delays. During the Memorial Day weekend, thousands of flights were canceled and delayed. Airlines are also reducing their summer schedules in order to minimize disruptions. However, if this continues, customers will likely have to deal with fewer flights and increased prices.
Airlines are adjusting schedules and hiring more employees to deal with the problems. However, many airlines are dealing with staffing shortages at airports and air traffic control towers, which can make air travel difficult for passengers. Luckily, Ellie and Ryan Weseloh and their family managed to avoid the worst of the summer air travel. Though a large family reunion nearly ruined their plans, they escaped the worst of the airline woes and arrived at their reunion on time. A few flights were cancelled, but the Weselohs made it in time.
Cost of travel
As the cost of travel increases, consumers are looking for ways to save money. According to Expedia’s CEO, Peter Kern, one in four Americans are looking for cheaper options. The recent rise in jet fuel has also affected travel plans, causing some travelers to be willing to spend more for their vacations.
The sudden rise in demand has left travel companies struggling to staff their operations. As a result, the airline industry has been forced to cut thousands of positions during the pandemic. With fewer employees, hiring and training new staff can be a challenge. Additionally, many positions are unlikely to be filled in time for peak summer travel.
The disruptions are affecting the United States and Europe alike. Some airlines are reducing schedules to reduce the number of flights canceled. In Europe, about 60% of flights were cancelled last month. As a result, many travelers may be left without a way to get home.
The chaos in air travel continues into fall. Strike action and staffing issues are keeping major airlines from providing service. Delta recently announced that they were cutting 100 flights daily between July and August, and Southwest, JetBlue and Alaska are reducing flight capacity as well.
