How Does the Pilot Shortage Affect Your Travels?
- By Jessica Elmore
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- 20 Jul, 2022
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Now that meetings are recommencing nationally and internationally, here is what you need to know about your future travels:

During the pandemic, thousands of pilots were offered early retirement packages in order to cut labor bills due to the lack of travel demand. Now that travel for pleasure and business is rebounding from the pandemic, approximately 14,000 flights in the US were recently cancelled or delayed due to the lack of pilots, carriers, and other staff.
Here is what you need to know about this travel setback:
- Several U.S. airlines are recruiting some pilots from Australia under a special visa to help ease the shortfall, but the numbers are smalcompared with their overall ranks and hiring goals.
- Major U.S. airlines are trying to hire more than 12,000 pilots combined this year alone, more than double the previous record in annual hiring.
- The number of airplane pilots and engineers decreased by almost 4% over two years, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Some airlines have created training programs or even their own flight schools to help assuage the shortage. But those may not be able to solve the shortage immediately.
- The Federal Aviation Administration, which issues new pilot certificates, has issued an average of just 6,500 certificates a year in the past decade. And as the virus disrupted training programs, there was a decrease in applicants and, in turn, a slight dip in certificates in 2020 and 2021.
What Can You Do to Make Your Travel Plans Easier?
- Arrive Early: This may sound routine, but we hear of so many travelers arriving at the last minute at the airport.
- Check In Online: Always check in online. This saves you tons of time of having to stand in line to check in at the teller.
- Carry On Only: Click here to get more information regarding the regulations to packing a carry on.
- Security: When you get to security, have everything you need to show out and ready.
- TSA PreCheck, Clear and Global Entry: Ensures a speedier, more straightforward screening process. For further information, TSA, Clear, and Global Entry.
- Check Covid Regulations: Click here to find out more about the latest travel/health restrictions for your trip.