European Woes

Is the Continent's Hot Vaxxed, Ready-to-Travel Summer Melting Away?

Note From the Editor

We'd like to welcome Jay Shabat, one of Airline Weekly's founders, back to the team. Jay's historic and institutional knowledge of the industry, on top of his analytic and data skillsets, will build on the in-depth and authoritative reporting you know and expect from Airline Weekly. Please help us welcome him back.

Pushing Back: Inside the Issue

Cancelled flights, lost bags, and industrial action are all becoming the European travel story of the summer. Staffing, whether it's at airports, air traffic control organizations, or airlines, is the main cause for operational woes that are hitting some of the continent's busiest airports, from Amsterdam to Frankfurt and London. Add to that potential strikes and the situation only gets worse. But, as yet, airlines have yet to see any material financial fallout and, instead, seem to be benefitting from pent-up demand and high fares. We'll see how long that lasts.

And the situation isn't limited to Europe. In Australia, the country's three busiest airports and its largest airline, Qantas, are warning of crowds during peak travel periods in July. The carrier is offering staff bonuses under the auspices of their hard work during the pandemic, but also just as it needs them most. Qantas has also trimmed schedules due to high fuel and to minimize potential disruptions.

And in the U.S., the pilot shortage continues to wreak havoc with American Airlines exiting four small communities — two of which lose their last connections to the global airline network. And SkyWest Airlines has a novel solution to expanding pilot supply and maintaining air service: start a new airline. No where you are: it's going to be an interesting summer.

The Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

Are profits on approach for airlines in 2023? Edward “Ned” Russell and Jay Shabat discuss IATA’s updated outlook, and Director General Willie Walsh’s comments at the annual general meeting in Doha. Also, SkyWest Airlines has a novel approach to expanding the pool of pilots. Listen to this week’s episode to find out. A full archive of the 'Lounge is here.