Cancelled Flights Galore: Swiss Subsidiary of Lufthansa Struggles with Pilot Shortage this Summer
Lufthansa's affiliate Swiss is forced to ground around 1400 flights over the summer season.
Let's face it, who doesn't want to jet off on a dreamy summer vacation? Unfortunately, passengers of Swiss, Lufthansa's subsidiary, may be hitting some rough turbulence. A whopping 1,400 flights are set to be grounded by October. But don't worry, it ain't due to lack of demand, it's all about that pilot life (or lack thereof).
The root of the problem? A bloomin' pilot shortage. Swiss has confessed that this scarcity is the result of a mix-up of optimistic planning and unexpected curveballs. Various long-haul, short, and medium-haul flights are bound to be axed due to this crisis. A Swiss spokesperson admitted this to "Aerotelegraph," an industry portal.
∑ Total cancellations amount to 1.5% of the flight plan between April and October. "Aerotelegraph" reports that pilots have been absent more often than usual, thanks to issues like pregnancies and accidents. The transition to the new Airbus A350 and a new labor agreement with enhanced working time regulations have also added to the demand for more pilots. That's about 70 more full-time positions, folks!
If you thought that was enough drama, hold on tighter. Engine problems with Airbus A220 jets are causing additional problems, even though there's no shortage of Airbus A320s. The issue? A dearth of qualified crew members to fly those planes. It's as if they temporarily misplaced Davy Jones' locker.
To provide a quick fix, some pilots are extending their retirement and part-time workers are increasing their hours. In the long run, Swiss aims to increase its cockpit training capacity and hire up to 110 new pilots annually.
Oh, and there's another hiccup. Due to engine problems, aircraft maintenance of Airbus A220 jets is proving to be quite the headache. Swiss manager Oliver Buchhofer explained this to the specialist portal, ntv.de, as/dpa. While there are plenty of Airbus A320s, there simply aren't enough pilots to man these planes. External support has already been maxed out, leaving Swiss high and dry.
Fun Fact: The pilots of Swiss International Air Lines aren't the only ones facing challenges; pilots across the globe are in high demand as commercial aviation is on the upswing after the pandemic lows. Airline companies are scrambling to find and train enough qualified personnel to keep up with the recovery.
Stay tuned to see how this unfolds for Swiss and its passengers. Will they be able to soar above the pilot shortage or will they be grounded for longer than anticipated? Time will tell.
Sources: ntv.de, as/dpa, "Aerotelegraph"
- Lufthansa
- Pilot Shortage
- Aircraft Maintenance Issues
- The pilot shortage at Lufthansa's subsidiary, Swiss, has led to increased vocational training for pilots, as the airline aims to hire up to 110 new pilots annually to meet the demand.
- Despite the ongoing pilot shortage, lifestyle enthusiasts planning to travel with Swiss this summer may face unexpected cancellations, which could disrupt their dreamy summer vacations.
