Over the Halloween weekend, American airlines canceled more than 1,500 flights nationwide, a trend that continued Monday as 12 percent of the carrier's flights for the day were canceled before noon.
Cancellations for American airlines reach 12% on Monday, more than 300 flights now scrapped after the airline promised the situation would improve this week amid pilot/flight attendant shortages that saw more than 2,000 flights canceled over the Halloween weekend. pic.twitter.com/bAjU5NfvoN
— Spencer Brown (@itsSpencerBrown) November 1, 2021
After similar days of cancellations plagued Southwest Airlines in October, American explained a familiar excuse, in part: weather. "Severe winds at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas have reduced American's arrival capacity by more than half, with the inclement weather also impacting the airline's staffing, American had said over the weekend," explained Reuters.
DALLAS (AP) — American Airlines has canceled more than 1,600 flights over the past three days, citing blustery conditions in Texas and a shortage of flight attendants.
— Josh Caplan (@joshdcaplan) October 31, 2021
As of Monday morning, nearly 350 more American flights had been canceled — per FlightAware — for the day as promises that its situation would improve seem to be falling short. As Reuters also reported, some 1,800 of American's flight attendants were slated to return from leave on Monday, but that doesn't seem to be helping planes get off the ground.
A shortage of pilots and flight attendants — much like the labor shortage affecting other sectors of the American economy — continues to lead to problems such as those stranding American Airlines customers across the country.
Crew shortages, caused in part by layoffs earlier in the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic, have only been compounded by the airline's vaccine mandate. According to The Hill:
Vaccine mandates implemented by airlines have also given rise to staffing concerns. The Allied Pilots Association, a labor union representing thousands of American Airlines pilots, has told pilots not to let looming vaccine deadlines distract them in the cockpit.
“The latest hazard we face may be the hardest, regardless of your personal views concerning the vaccine mandate. We are seeing distractions in the flight deck that can create dangerous situations,” the union said in a memo.
As more Americans begin traveling again — especially as the busy holiday travel season approaches and more popular destinations relax their Wuhan coronavirus protocols — the need for crews will only increase putting even more pressure on airlines to ensure their flights are staffed.
Photos from travelers attempting to reach their destinations via American Airlines in the last few days show crowded boarding areas, long lines for customer service, and a more hellish than usual travel experience.
Just landed at LAX…the line for American Airlines customer assistance pretty much goes as far as the eye can see through the terminal. Mass cancellations of flights today. @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/mtebgML9Bv
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) October 31, 2021
Here again more unexplained cancellations and @AmericanAir is silent.
— Dr. Willie J. Montague (@RepMontague) October 30, 2021
Why? pic.twitter.com/m8VqM5QQyS
More than 800 American Airlines flights have been cancelled today because of staffing shortages and weather issues.
— Kolbie Satterfield (@KolbieReports) October 31, 2021
At Reagan National there are a lot of upset travelers whose flights won’t get out tonight.
One family’s only option is to drive overnight to Chicago. pic.twitter.com/IpPC3hJu6w
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