New Delhi: AFP reported that US airlines had to cancel hundreds of flights this weekend due to staff shortages caused by weather-related disruptions.
According to data from FlightAware, US airlines canceled 800 flights on Friday and Saturday and more than 400 flights are expected to be canceled on Sunday.
American Airlines CEO David Seymour informed employees in a memo address that the company’s Dallas hub triggered strong wind storms on Thursday due to flight cancellations, thereby delaying staff positions for upcoming flights.
He adds that due to additional weather issues, “crew numbers tend to shrink as crew members end their regular flight sequences”.
Seymour said it expects to resume operations soon with the start of the new month.
Seymour further announced the return of 1,800 flight workers who have been on standby since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and another 600 flight crews recruited along with 4,000 airport staff by the end of December 2021.
Most of the passengers affected due to the cancellation of flights were able to rebook for the same day, said the airline, which operates 6,700 daily flights to 350 destinations in 50 countries worldwide.
With Covid-19 vaccination and lifting of restrictions, the demand for travel has increased leaving airlines facing staff crunch. The US airline is not the first to cancel flights due to staff shortages, AFP reported.
Earlier last week, Southwest Airlines had to cancel more than 2,000 flights, costing $75 million.
(with inputs from AFP)
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