Passengers line up at John F. Kennedy International Airport after airlines announced the cancellation of several flights during the spread of the Omicron coronavirus version on Christmas Eve in Queens, New York, December 24, 2021.
Daiu-Nalio Cherry | Reuters
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Thursday urged the airline’s CEO to make sure they can fly their schedules reliably this summer. delays and cancellations This year, according to a person familiar with the call.
The secretary asked airlines what steps they were taking to ensure that the disruptions on Memorial Day during the 4th of July weekend and the rest of the summer were not repeated, the person said. Buttigieg also inspired airlines to improve customer service so that passengers could book fastThe person described the call as “productive and collaborative.”
Airlines are grappling with regular disruptions such as weather, along with staff shortages and increased travel demand. JetBlue Airways, Delta Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines And Alaska Airlines is already reached back To give themselves more room to handle their spring and summer itinerary disruptions.
According to flight-tracking site FlightAware, more than 7,100 US flights were delayed and nearly 1,600 were canceled as several thunderstorms disrupted travel to some of the nation’s busiest airports.
Thursday’s meeting took place after Sense. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) wrote a letter earlier this month to US airlines’ industry group, Airlines for America, for more information about the disruptions over Memorial Day weekend. pressure was exerted.
“We appreciate the opportunity to meet with Secretary of the Department of Transportation Buttigieg this summer to discuss our shared commitment to prioritizing the safety and security of all passengers,” said Nick Calio, CEO of Airlines for America. Represents large US carriers, it said in a statement.
Airline executives have sometimes placed the blame on air traffic control.
The Federal Aviation Administration last month called the carrier to Florida for a meeting about recent flight disruptions in the state, where flight disruptions include frequent thunderstorms, military exercises and space launches, as well as increased demand.
The FAA, which participated in Thursday’s meeting, said it would increase the workforce at a major air traffic facility in Florida, among other measures,
