Hundreds of Delta flights canceled due to weather, pilot staffing issues

“We don’t have pilots in the best seats in the best airplanes on the proper time,” mentioned Chris Riggins, a spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Affiliation union at Delta.

In the meantime, the Delta pilot coaching middle’s set variety of flight simulators restricted its capability. The pandemic exacerbated the issue.

Delta pilots are being requested to get examined for COVID-19 as soon as every week. “We’re seeing the numbers [of cases] enhance, together with everybody else,” Riggins mentioned.

Delta usually will depend on providing time beyond regulation pay to extend pilot staffing when wanted, however it may be harder to get sufficient last-minute volunteers on holidays.

Delta also had to cancel over 600 flights over Thanksgiving amid crew staffing points, and it had hoped to keep away from related issues over Christmas.

Riggins mentioned site visitors is predicted to be busy Jan. 5 with return journeys from the vacations, however he didn’t suppose there could be the identical pilot staffing issues.

In regards to the Creator

Kelly Yamanouchi

Enterprise reporter Kelly Yamanouchi covers airways and the airport together with Atlanta-based Delta Air Traces, one of many world’s largest carriers, and Hartsfield-Jackson, ranked for years because the world’s busiest airport. She has lined airways for greater than 15 years, graduated from Harvard and has a grasp’s diploma from Northwestern.