With the cost of living crisis raising eyebrows, it’s easy to see why some people are worried that summer getaways might be on the wane. In addition to flight delays and long lines, travelers will also have to contend with staffing shortages in the travel industry. But what about the real causes for this mayhem? Here are some of the most common causes of travel chaos. Read on to find out what’s really causing travel chaos and how you can prevent it this summer.
Flight cancellations, delays, and airport lines
As the airline industry struggles with staff shortages, travelers are warned to expect a lot of mayhem this summer. Over the Memorial Day weekend, for example, more than 2,800 flights were cancelled, representing nearly two percent of schedules. Delta accounted for 800 of those cancellations, which were attributed to understaffing. While many disruptions can be blamed on the pilots’ strike, they should not be the only cause of travel havoc.
Southwest Airlines said that 400 flights have been canceled in the U.S. on Saturday, and the airlines expect to experience more as the system pushes into the Eastern seaboard. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines is issuing travel waivers for mid-Atlantic airports and Washington D.C., which were hit the hardest by the storm. However, the airline is not saying exactly what the COVID virus will do to its operations.
There are no surefire solutions for the airline industry’s current problems. Airlines are scrambling to deal with the unprecedented demand, resulting in a lot of disruption. It’s not surprising that airlines are struggling to keep up. Some airlines, such as JetBlue and Alaska Airlines, have cut routes and understaffed airports. Renting a car is getting so expensive that it’s cheaper to buy a new vehicle than rent a car.
Staffing shortages in the travel industry
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, the U.S. travel industry will experience its strongest summer on record. Despite these challenges, major hotel companies still expect this summer to be the best on record in terms of leisure travel. However, a labor shortage is limiting the performance of some properties. A recent WTTC report detailed several ways the travel industry can deal with the shortage.
There are several reasons for the labor shortage. The easing of immigration restrictions and a strong domestic economy are driving demand for travel. Unfortunately, the resulting labor shortage is outpacing the labor supply. While travel demand continues to grow, it continues to outpace the supply of workers. This has led to a lack of workers across the travel industry, including restaurants, hotels, and airlines. During the summer vacation season, the travel industry may be hit by a lingering labor crisis.
One reason for the labor shortage is the Covid-19 pandemic, which has led to massive staffing shortages. In the past few months, several European countries have eased travel restrictions, with Greece opening its doors to visitors from May. The shortage of workers has a major impact on hotels and airlines, which are already struggling to keep up with the demand. But this summer, a travel shortage is expected to lead to subpar experiences. This could lead to cramped flights and sold-out destinations.