(CNN) – Air traffic disruptions have plagued summer travelers, and this past weekend was no exception.
Friday was the worst day for cancellations since mid-June, with 1,613 US flights cancelled, according to data from flight tracking site FlightAware. And the cancellations continued to pile up over the weekend.
Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg is not satisfied with the continued flight chaos and calls on travelers to share their experiences.
While Buttigieg acknowledged that severe weather disrupted air travel this weekend, “it shouldn’t have created the kind of ripple effects through the system that it did.
“That’s something that to me is an indication that we still haven’t seen the improvements that we need, that the system is very fragile,” Buttigieg said Wednesday on CNN’s New Day.
He said the “human factor” is the biggest contributor to snarling air traffic.
“Not having enough crew, especially pilots, to do the job. And airlines, of course, have an obligation to service the tickets they sell,” Buttigieg said.
Buttigieg met with airlines before July 4, calling for more realistic schedules, more pilot training and more responsive customer service. He said the meeting also addressed how the Federal Aviation Administration could help ease disruptions.
Airlines cut their schedules in advance to ease disruptions. American Airlines last week announced cuts to September and October flights.
The Transportation Department last week proposed a rule that would expand protections for travelers seeking refunds, and the secretary is inviting the public to monitor the rule and file complaints if airlines don’t respond.
The proposed rule would more clearly define cases where flights are significantly changed or canceled to provide a clearer path to refunds in addition to creating more pandemic consumer protections.
‘A good start’
The posting of the proposed rule on Regulations. See the article : Quick summer travel ensnares Cleveland airport directors, and many others.gov had more than 400 comments as of Wednesday morning.
One commenter, Natalia Villegas, agreed that more consumer protection is needed.
“The current ruling on when consumers are entitled to compensation is very vague and makes it almost impossible for the consumer to see any kind of compensation,” Villegas wrote, noting a year-long battle to get a flight refund.
Another commenter said it was “a good start” but that it “doesn’t go far enough.” This commenter, Carol Poindexter, would like to see monetary compensation for delayed flights.
Buttigieg told CNN that his own biggest frustration is with cancellations, noting that his own flight was canceled on Friday.
Buttigieg acknowledged the public’s frustration with airlines that received federal bailouts during the pandemic.
“I think a lot of passengers don’t understand how more than $50 billion to keep these businesses in business, and then when the demand comes back … they’re not prepared to meet or service that demand.”
He said that while hiring has rebounded in most areas, airlines are still short on pilots, in part because of early retirement. Recent wage increases introduced by some regional carriers should help recruit and retain more pilots, he said.
But the pilot shortage will likely take some time to remedy, an analyst recently told CNN.
“A lot of pilots have retired. It’s not easy to replace them,” said Jim Corridore, senior insights manager for research firm Similarweb. “It’s a long process, it will still be a year or so for the airlines to have a full schedule that dictates this level of demand.”
CNN’s Chris Isidore and Pete Muntean contributed to this report.Top image: Extremely long security lines stretch across the terminal building and onto the road outside Kahului Airport in Maui, Hawaii, on August 1 (Gado/Getty Images )
Top image: Extremely long security lines extend beyond the terminal building and onto the road outside Kahului Airport in Maui, Hawaii, on August 1. (Gado/Getty Images)
