tldrdaily.news logo
Tag

Pilot Shortage

All articles tagged with #pilot shortage

business1 year ago

Airline Executives Face Senate Scrutiny Over Controversial Fees

Spirit Airlines' Chief Commercial Officer Matthew Klein accused other airline CEOs of attempting to drive Spirit out of business during a Senate hearing on airline fees. Klein highlighted issues such as limited airport access, increased operational costs, and a pilot shortage exacerbated by legacy carriers poaching pilots. He also criticized the blocked merger with JetBlue, which he claims hindered Spirit's growth. Klein's comments follow United CEO Scott Kirby's criticism of low-cost carriers' business models. Spirit is undergoing a reorganization plan following its recent bankruptcy filing.

via AirlineGeeks.com|
#airline-industry#bankruptcy#business
aviation-business1 year ago

"Spirit Airlines Delays Airbus Orders, Furloughs Pilots to Boost Liquidity"

Spirit Airlines will defer deliveries of new Airbus planes and furlough about 260 pilots in an effort to boost liquidity, with CEO Ted Christie citing the necessity of these steps for the company's future. The deferrals are expected to increase liquidity by about $340 million over the next two years, and the pilot furloughs will take effect in September. The airline has been grappling with the grounding of many of its Airbus planes due to a Pratt & Whitney engine recall and the collapse of its planned acquisition by JetBlue Airways earlier this year.

via CNBC|
#airbus#aviation-business#furlough
aviation1 year ago

"United Airlines Pilots Face Unpaid Leave Amid Boeing Woes"

United Airlines is offering its pilots voluntary unpaid leave due to delayed deliveries of new Boeing aircraft, leading to an overstaffed situation. Pilots can take off for a month at a time without pay, and the program is expected to continue into the summer and possibly fall. This move comes after United announced a pause in pilot hiring. The situation reflects a shift from a recent pilot shortage to an oversupply, as airlines negotiated lucrative contracts with pilots during a period of high demand, which has now decreased due to various industry challenges.

via One Mile at a Time|
#aviation#boeing#pilot-shortage
aviation-industry1 year ago

"Boeing Delivery Delay Forces United Airlines to Seek Pilots for Voluntary Unpaid Leave"

United Airlines is asking its pilots to take voluntary unpaid leave in May due to delays in Boeing deliveries, reducing forecasted block hours for 2024. The offer may extend into summer and fall, with the company still paying some benefits while the pilot is out. This comes as the industry faces a pilot shortage and United halts new pilot hiring due to continued Boeing delays. The airline is considering buying more jets from Boeing competitor Airbus, and recent incidents with Boeing planes have raised concerns.

via CNN|
#aviation-industry#boeing#delivery-delay
aviation-industry1 year ago

United Airlines Requests Pilots to Take Unpaid Leave Amid Boeing Delays

United Airlines is asking its pilots to take time off in May due to delays in receiving new Boeing planes, leading to a shortage of flight hours. The airline expects similar requests throughout the summer and possibly into the fall. The shortage primarily consists of Boeing 737 Max planes, including a new, larger model, and the FAA's increased scrutiny of Boeing is likely to further delay the certification of the Max 10. United is considering options to replace orders for the Max 10, and CEO Scott Kirby has been vocal about the problems at Boeing, seeking a meeting with Boeing directors. Boeing's CEO is set to step down at the end of the year as part of a leadership shakeup at the company.

via Yahoo Finance|
#aircraft-delivery-delays#aviation-industry#boeing
transportation2 years ago

The Decline of Small Airports: Explained

Legacy airlines, including American, Delta, and United, have been withdrawing from regional airports across the United States since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many small airports without commercial airline service. The shortage of pilots and changing airline economics, with increased labor, fuel, and maintenance costs, have made it difficult for smaller planes to be profitable. As a result, regional airports are losing options for passengers, and the highway system is becoming the primary access point for air travel. The departure of airlines from smaller cities has frustrated airport officials and impacted local businesses that rely on air service. Some airports are seeking assistance from Congress to rejoin programs like Essential Air Service, which provides grants to airlines serving financially challenging locations.

via MPR News|
#airline-economics#essential-air-service#pilot-shortage
aviation-industry2 years ago

"Aviation Industry Faces Decade-Long Staffing Crisis, Causing Flight Delays and Cancellations"

The aviation industry in the United States is facing a severe staffing crisis, with a shortage of about 32,000 commercial pilots, mechanics, and air traffic controllers. The post-COVID travel surge has exacerbated the problem, leading to persistent flight cancellations and delays. The industry struggles to train new professionals, and mandatory retirement ages for pilots and air traffic controllers further contribute to the shortage. Airlines are being investigated for unrealistic scheduling, and the industry is also grappling with a shortage of certified mechanics and fully-certified air traffic controllers. The staffing shortages have caused major disruptions in travel, with increased flight delays and cancellations. Lawmakers are pushing for action to address the crisis, and airlines are implementing measures to attract and train new employees.

via Daily Mail|
#aviation-industry#flight-delays#mechanic-shortage
aviation2 years ago

Pilot Shortage: Airlines Struggle with Captains' Reluctance

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has confirmed that the airline is facing a problem finding pilots to fill captain vacancies, which is impacting its flight capacity in the fourth quarter. Senior first officers are reportedly avoiding promotion to captain due to the unpredictable schedule that comes with the bigger paycheck. United has had 978 captain vacancies go unfilled in the past year, and bids for 50% of the vacancies posted have gone unanswered. The airline's pilots blame current work rules for making senior first officers reluctant to take promotions, but United has made efforts to address these issues in its new pilot contract.

via Reuters|
#aviation#captain-vacancies#flight-capacity
aviation2 years ago

"Pilots' Reluctance to Take the Captain's Seat Puts United Airlines in a Bind"

United Airlines is facing a shortage of captains as many pilots are refusing promotions due to the unpredictable schedules and disruptions to their personal lives that come with the role. This shortage could potentially lead to a reduction in available flights for travelers by next summer. Similar issues are being faced by American Airlines, where thousands of pilots have declined captain positions. Smaller regional carriers have already had to cut flights due to staffing constraints. United Airlines is attempting to address the issue with a new pilot deal that includes premium pay and more days off, but it remains to be seen if it will be enough to attract pilots to the captain's seat.

via Yahoo Canada Finance|
#airline-industry#aviation#captain-vacancies
transportation2 years ago

Commercial pilot retirement age raised to 67 by U.S. House panel vote.

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has narrowly voted to raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age to 67 from 65, as part of a proposed five-year bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety and infrastructure programs. The proposal faces opposition from unions and an uncertain fate by a U.S. Senate committee, which will consider its version of the FAA measure on Thursday and does not currently include the pilot age hike. The Regional Airline Association (RAA) praised the pilot age hike, noting 324 airports have lost, on average, a third of their air service with more than 400 airplanes parked due to a lack of pilots.

via Reuters.com|
#airline-industry#faa#house-transportation-and-infrastructure-committee
aviation2 years ago

Airline Unions Accuse SkyWest of Safety Rule Evasion through Charter Status

Airline unions are opposing SkyWest Airlines' request to operate some flights as charters, accusing the company of trying to evade safety rules for passenger airlines. SkyWest says charter service is the only way to preserve flights to many smaller communities that major airlines no longer serve. The Transportation Department has not indicated when it will rule.

via AOL|
#airline-unions#aviation#charter-flights
business2 years ago

United Airlines to Hire 50,000 Workers for Busy Summer and Beyond

United Airlines plans to hire 15,000 new workers by the end of the year in preparation for a busy summer travel season. The airline has already hired 7,000 new workers in the first four months of the year and plans to add 2,300 pilots, among other positions. The airline industry has seen a 32% increase in jobs since February 2020, but shortages of pilots and flight attendants contributed to a jump in canceled and delayed flights last year.

via Fox Business|
#airline-industry#business#hiring
business2 years ago

The Turbulent State of Airline Industry Finances.

Delta and United have reported losses due to increased airline pilot salaries, which may be unsustainable in the long run. Some American Airlines pilots may earn up to $590,000 per year under the new proposed contract, but the average airline pilot's salary is still far less. The pilot shortage in the US is due to the high cost of receiving an airline transport pilot certificate and low hourly rates for fresh-out-of-school airline pilots. Future setbacks could cripple airlines if demand drops and fares become unsustainable.

via Live and Let's Fly|
#airlines#business#earnings-report
business2 years ago

Larger Planes: Airlines' Solution to Airport Congestion and Cost Increase.

Airlines are turning to bigger planes to address congested airports, rising costs, a pilot shortage, and a resurgence in travel demand. This strategy, known as "upgauging," allows airlines to sell more seats on each flight and make do with fewer planes, which are in short supply. However, it also means fewer flight options for consumers. Some airlines are also reducing their reliance on regional feeder airlines to increase passengers per plane.

via CNBC|
#airlines#business#congested-airports