A looming pilot problem threatens to impact flights during the busy holiday season.
- American Airlines glitch causes staffing shortage
- OIA says it's too early to estimate impact
- Airline has 200,000 flights scheduled during Dec.
A scheduling glitch caused a major staffing shortage for American Airlines. Too many employees were granted time off the last two weeks of December, resulting in thousands of flights without pilots.
Orlando International Airport is served by American, and we spoke with passengers about the potential problem.
“Air travel is difficult already, then add delays and cancellations on top of that ... that's going to be bad, but it will be good for the pilots who can pick up the overtime,” said flier Matthew Makower-Brown.
“It doesn't affect me, but I would be furious if I had to fly home and I couldn't because you know there are no planes,” said another passenger, Hope Griffis.
A spokesperson with Orlando International Airport said it’s too early to speculate how the issue will impact Central Florida fliers.
American said they’re bringing in reserve pilots and offering time and a half pay for regular staff to work, leaving only a few hundred of their late December flights without pilots.
Thursday the pilot’s union said their data contradicts that, and thousands of the flights are still unassigned.
According to the airline, American has about 200,000 flights scheduled during December.