As the summer travel season officially kicks off, early signs suggest this will be a particularly difficult period of flight delays and cancellations. Delta Air Lines pilots want you to know it is not their fault.
Delta Air Lines Pilots Pen Open Letter To Customers On Flight Delays, Overtime
Pilots at Delta Air Lines, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, have taken the rare step of publishing an open letter to customers as the summer travel season begins. Delta, which once stood out among its peers for its stellar operational performance, has not been immune from delays and cancellations this year. But pilots wish to make one thing clear: it’s not us.
Here’s the letter:
To Our Valued Customers:
The Delta pilots take pride in the reliability and the service that defines Delta Air Lines. We are disheartened when we witness the impact of your disrupted travel plans. As you travel with us this summer and beyond, we ask you to please remember the following:
- Delta pilots will continue to prioritize safety – every day and on every flight.
- We have been working on our days off, flying a record amount of overtime to help you get to your destination. At the current rate, by this fall, our pilots will have flown more overtime in 2022 than in the entirety of 2018 and 2019 combined, our busiest years to date.
- We empathize and share in your frustration over the delays, cancellations, and disrupted travel plans you’ve experienced. We agree; it is unacceptable.
As we welcome you aboard, we will continue to go above and beyond to ensure the integrity of the operation. Delta’s management needs to do the same before you lose confidence in the Delta brand.
The Pilots of Delta Air Lines
The defensive letters seeks to hold management accountable for the operational woes (encouraged in part by the reduction of the aircraft fleet and most notably of personnel through voluntary attrition during the pandemic) but goes a step further in pointing out that Delta pilots are working harder than ever to avoid delays and cancellations by stepping up.
The revelation that Delta pilots, as a whole, are projected to work more overtime in 2022 than in 2018 and 2019 combined, is big news, as those two years marked the two busiest years to date prior to 2022.
CONCLUSION
I’m not always in favor of airline union tactics, but I found this letter very reasonable and thought that it struck a nice balance between defending pilots while pledging to continue to step up to avoid disruptions.
Despite their most valiant efforts, I still predict travel this summer will be like a rollercoaster. Be prepared: but don’t take out your frustration on Delta pilots if your flight is delayed or cancelled.
image: Delta
Do your job!!!! For both airlines and pilots there is no excuse for poor service. Covid game is over, airline tickets are more expensive than ever so no excuses.
That’s not the issue. They time out just like any other job doesn’t allow you to work 7 days in some states. Difference in you doing your job and a pilot flying is them flying tired and making a life changing mistake that can result in death. There aren’t enough pilots…alot retired and there’s a lot of training needed to fly. Again…if you want anyone flying you to and from…have at it. I don’t. I would be mad if inconvenienced but I’d be real mad if I wake up and angel
No. No. and No. They stole our money as taxpayers to avoid just this. Now every part of the wheel is blaming the other. What a load of crap. I say regulate the entire industry again. Enough. If they can’t offer the basics of running an essential business in our society than the entire system needs to me reorganized. Our system relies on this industry, as such we bailed airlines out to assure just that. Yet, they are screwing us further while asking for patience. Nope. Either give us our money back or the Govt will step in to make sure you have accountability. I’m sick of it. The whole lot, from management, to pilots, to flight attendants to whatever…a bunch of completely entitled idiots raping consumers and taxpayers in open daylight.
This. So much this. I was in ATL for a forced 5-hour layover two days ago that became 7-1/2 hours because of poorly banked TATL flights compounded by delays due to poor operational management. Literally every gate was delayed in both A and B terminals. Ed keeps shoving his foot in his mouth about how “well” DL managed Covid, yet here we are with travel rebounding, Covid essentially a thing of the past, and yet planes are not leaving and crews aren’t even showing up. Sky Clubs are abysmal as DL tried to cram every possible revenue stream during Covid through the Sky Clubs to keep the shareholders fat and happy. DL is becoming an operational shitshow showcasing poor management hubris and they’re laughing at customers the whole time. Prices are sky-high and service is non-existent. I’m getting so sick of pilots telling us isn’t not their fault. Well it sure as heck isn’t ours, either. Pilots have a much better path to make things right than we do. They need to just shut already, do their job, and start telling Ed and the other C-suite dipshits to get their shit together. Shifting the blame off of them makes them look immature. You represent the airline…act like it. pilots!
Great post Stuart & DCAWABN! All airlines know how increase fares but should be putting their efforts in getting passengers to destination on time without canceling flights.
@Stuart: “Either give us our money back or the Govt will step in to make sure you have accountability.” You made me choke with my coffee while reading this. Government? What Government? All this Government wants is to give more free money to the lazy people. They will never step in for anything. It is a lost cause.
This misunderstanding of economics and government policy is a major problem. Governments shutting down the economy and spending millions on stimulus payments, closing borders to travel and requiring vaccines, etc is the cause of this problem. There is a shortage of pilots. Until the economy restabalizes, the government’s intervention will only exacerbate the problems we are currently experiencing.
The one thing I haven’t heard anyone mention as to a contributing factor of this “pilot shortage” is the strategic decision airlines made decades ago to prioritize frequency over capacity. So, a route that used to use a MD-80 with 2 pilots , was changed to 3 CRJs , using 6 pilots (many of whom were barley making minimum wage). My only point in brining this up is that when you look at the decisions management has made, while ignoring the duty (of self preservation) to develop a pipeline of talent, it really doesn’t seem all that surprising that we are where we are. Now, as time goes on and labor markets equalize, it would not surprise me to see airlines headed to court to file bankruptcy for the sole purpose of negating their union contracts.
Interesting point- maybe that’s why we don’t have much of a pilot shortage over in Europe (we are mostly short of ground staff who should be easier to recruit and train up). Regional jets have never been super popular here, they mostly seem to be used instead of turboprops (e.g. two of my three most recent flights with regional jets were LIS-OPO and MUC-PRG).
That’s a really good point. Back in the 90’s before the entire Regional jet phenom took over you would see far less frequency on heavily trafficked routes, but larger jets. I remember the days pre-9/11 when United, as an example, actually flew a DC10 twice a day between BWI and ORD. Now you are lucky to get an actual mainline jet as most are RJ’s. Look at the schedule between IAH and DCA…I think half the flights are regionals. How about cutting 1-2 a day and using mainline jets on the rest? Pilot shortage solved.
The problem being is those regional jets offer the pipeline of talent for the main line operators. We’re do you think those pilots come frome to fly those mainline jets. I doing away with those operations you cut your talent pool significantly. Thus shooting yourself in the foot when it comes to future manpower needs.
I hope I don’t eat my words here, but the dry summer west of the Mississippi makes it seem most delays have been happening in the East. Every time I fly, I expect a delay, but it never seems to happen. I’m currently on a r/t AUS-PVR booked about 18h in advance for $320. I’m starting to think the whole “sold out summer” thing is fake news.
I fly almost every week and I scratch my head every time I book a flight and every time I fly. I am based in Minneapolis and flights to Chicago used to be less than $200 round trip. I just paid $1,100. Flights to Denver used to be around $300. I just paid $850. Oh, and every flight is either full every seat or the gate agent has to offer gift cards for sometimes 7 passengers to stay because they are oversold. I can’t understand what is driving so much demand at these ridiculous prices. I think people have Covid hangover and are not caring our economy has been destroyed by a demented so when they wake up they won’t have money left. Very very concerning.
These guys complaining about overtime lmao – they get paid time and half, maybe even 2x it they work enough in a week. In this recession-bound economy where a lot of people are losing their jobs, they should be proud to work overtime and be privileged to be earn money.
They aren’t complaining about OT. They are tired. Do you want a tired pilot taking you to and from? I work for an airline and even the ticketing agents and gate agents are tired. Alot of work is being done with less people now a days. I love the OT and the opportunity to make more money but I’m tired as hell too. Imagine if Im tired and I’m your pilot….do you want that?
AUS-PVR? Via where?
Flight attendants are exhausted, too.
Every industry has been compromised by the bean counters in the past few decades. What makes Airlines unique is that every time they face the slightest adversity they run to the federal government and demand bailouts. Even worse, they always get them. They’ve learned that every time they cry they get a pacifier, which has emboldened them to see how much more they can get each time. Their latest ploy is selling tickets for a lot more flights than they have staff to operate. Compounding the problem is the consolidation of the industry to just four major airlines, two mid-size airlines and three flying bus lines, limiting choice for many customers . This has had the effect of raising ticket prices and drastically reducing the onboard experience. As customers and especially taxpayers, we must vote with our wallets to force changes.
The pilots sound like politicians … it’s everyone else fault but theirs! Cut the BS. “We’re working more overtime” means they’re getting more overtime pay than ever. So quit whining.
FAA limits the number of hours pilots can fly. Nice to see them looking out for our safety. Someone needs to provide a balance to business greed. Also nice to see that pilots can’t be bought off with huge wages. They know how important family time is and a well-rounded life. There’s a problem here that can’t be fixed by their sacrifice.
Hopefully the above opinion mavens will start flying Karen Airlines & free up more booking options for me. Otherwise, STFU & move to a communist country as they hate capitalism
I see two problems. First most of the delays and cancelations are because of weather, all because they are flying smaller jets that can’t fly in anything more than a light rain.
Second this all goes back to scheduling. You have X number of planes, and X number of pilots, don’t schedule beyond your capacity. It’ll bite you every time one of those storms pops up.
Love Delta but this year the company has priced me out of the game. Want flight to,England with one stop but no go unless I accept return via Amsterdam. So disappointed and $1 k more expensive
The business traveler will not come back or tolerate this. We can’t afford embarrassing ourselves with clients. It’s not practical or cost effective to plan business trips anymore.
And the lack of Business travelers may be a reason for the inflated prices. They have to make money in the summer when people will just step up and pay. Where as business people can skip the trip and do a Zoom call. Big change in revenue.
I think it’s about balancing creed to what’s actually doable. The airline needs to reduce routes until they have the crews to actually cover these routes. Until that happens Pilots and Flight Attendants not to mention ground personnel are just not able to cover it all.
I think it’s about balancing greed to what’s actually doable. The airline needs to reduce routes until they have the crews to actually cover these routes. Until that happens Pilots and Flight Attendants not to mention ground personnel are just not able to cover it all.
Neither pilots nor flight attendants may fly limitless amounts of hours. FAA regulations. We want you to be safe.
And we truly are sorry, but there are not enough pilots or flight attendants to maintain this summer schedule. We want to keep our loyal customers, we didn’t want this to happen. It’s just as frustrating and disrupting to our lives as it is our passengers.
Upper management wouldn’t listen. We can’t get through to scheduling. They need to live our lives for two weekss.