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Home » Delta Air Lines » What Really Happened To Delta Air Lines On Thanksgiving?
Delta Air Lines

What Really Happened To Delta Air Lines On Thanksgiving?

Matthew Klint Posted onNovember 27, 2020November 27, 2020 45 Comments

Delta Thanksgiving Pilot Shortage

Fact: Delta Air Lines cancelled 272 flights yesterday. It has already cancelled 162 flights today.

Fact: Delta is known for its operational reliability and historically has resisted cancelling a single mainline flight.

Question: So what is causing so many cancellations?


Yesterday, I laid out several potential reasons for the cancellations. Poor crew scheduling by Delta? Industrial action by pilots or flight attendants? Poor passenger counts leading to consolidation? All were within the realm of possibility.

Delta still has not specifically addressed the reason for the delay, only stating that “a number of factors have pressured our ability to timely staff several dozen scheduled flights.”

Live and Let’s Fly reached out to the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) for comment and did not hear back.

But over the last 24 hours I have spoken to several pilots and flight attendants concerning what happened.

To be clear, I am not making any definitive statements here, because these are still conversations from employees who are not comfortable going on the record. However, there seem to be three factors which have caused so many delays and cancellations this week.

1.) Pilot Scheduling Software Issue

Delta uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) for its crew scheduling. A multi-hour outage in the United States led to a number of scheduling glitches, prompting cancellations.

2.) Pilot Shortage

Delta added extra Thanksgiving flights in mid-October, after November crews schedules had already been assigned. While Delta hoped that enough pilots would step up to operate extra flights during the holidays (for extra pay), not enough pilots proved willing (many did, just not enough).

3.) Longer-Term Pilot Training Issues

The cancellations yesterday centered on Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s. Delta is experiencing a shortage of qualified pilots to operate these airframes because of a training backlog. Some pilots who were able and willing to operate these fights could not because of insufficient simulator time which are required after months of dormancy.

This third reason in particular was also expressed by a Delta pilot who commented on yesterday’s story, noting:

“Delta does not have enough trained and current pilots because of the massive training backlog management induced starting almost a year ago. Their efforts to manipulate the pilots into concessions by utilizing multiple staffing reorganizations has backfired horribly. We have thousands of pilots sitting on the sidelines because they’re stuck in months-long training cycles – some for the second or third time in a year. Combine that with to 2000 early retirements and 1700+ pilots awaiting 30-hour furloughs, and you have an airline critically short on pilot staffing.”

“It’s very simple math when Delta has induced several thousand pilots into non-operational status because they tried to pressure them into large concession instead of constructively working with the pilots from the beginning.”

CONCLUSION

Delta’s flight cancellations continue today and appear poised to continue into the weekend. While Delta still has not offered precise reasons for the cancellations, it appears that a software glitch coupled with an insufficient number of pilots either willing or able to operate flights created this perfect storm over Thanksgiving.

image: Airbus

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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45 Comments

  1. Jason Reply
    November 27, 2020 at 1:07 pm

    Pilots are just greedy and only care about themselves.

    • Bob Reply
      November 27, 2020 at 5:27 pm

      Im sure you’re not greedy and only care about others Jason. Pilots in the majors make serious bank. The Flight Attendants aren’t doing bad either 6 figures? No problem. Chill they’re just trying to enjoy their careers ok.

      • J. 123 Reply
        November 27, 2020 at 11:26 pm

        What about the shortage of the most important people on the ground that make 6 figures?? The mechanics. Delta is having them work only 30 hrs a week. Not enough to have all the aircraft ready for the holiday flying.

        • ANNA Reply
          November 28, 2020 at 2:18 pm

          Exactly, cutting too many corners..and training
          Lets add, the encouraged massive retirements of senior workers who would have sounded the alarms, they merged with NWA, years ago and now have a disfunctional “Family”. Theres background stories, from operations, catering, scheduling, mechanics, crews…no one wants their names attached to the truth. Safety First.

    • O Velho Gringo Reply
      November 27, 2020 at 5:51 pm

      You fly the planes then. Oh wait! You don’t have an Airline Transport Pilot rating and thousands of hours flying time. I do.

      • Flyoften Reply
        November 28, 2020 at 10:31 pm

        That justifies you being greedy?

        Coming, man. Chill.

        Most pilots are super skilled employees who care about their customerssome are greedy hacks trying to fleece their company (and by extension, their customers) for dollars they don’t deserve.

        The former kind are focused on their jobs. The latter kind are insecure and troll random blogs and yell at anyone remotely calling them out.

    • Gregg D Mettler Reply
      November 27, 2020 at 6:04 pm

      Sure Jason.
      Pilots retire on 1/4 of their previous retirement remuneration bc they are greedy.
      Super-stupid statement.

      • Tim Reply
        November 28, 2020 at 11:26 am

        There is an accelerated covig19 infection rate among the flight attendants.

    • J at Q Reply
      November 27, 2020 at 7:06 pm

      What?!?!? Jason, do you work for a living? Why don’t you just do it for free…?

      • Someone Who Knows Reply
        November 27, 2020 at 9:52 pm

        Delta doesn’t use AWS for pilot scheduling. Might want to run a fact check on that.

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          November 27, 2020 at 11:06 pm

          I have been told that Delta’s Data Center, which powers crew scheduling, does indeed use AWS.

          • Mark Roderick
            November 28, 2020 at 1:25 am

            The links provided do not state crew scheduling uses AWS. Nor that the delta data center is “powered” by aws, wbatever way you meant using that term in fact.

            Without any knowledge of the architectural design behind an IT solution, stating this bluntly in a public article is not only irresponsible but a disservice to your intended audience.

        • Mike Reply
          November 28, 2020 at 11:59 am

          The first article specifically states that Deltas system is in a single datacenter in Atlanta.

          The third one claims “this could have been prevented with AWS”

          The second article doesn’t mention AWS at all.

    • Andre Darin Reply
      November 27, 2020 at 7:23 pm

      You are utterly clueless.
      I fly for a major and while have worked with some pilots who put money on the short list of why they chose this profession—just as their are physicians, nurses, and teachers who chose their jobs because of potential earnings—the vast majority of pilots fly because of passion for flight.

      Furthermore, I’ve never met one who wasn’t aware of the awesome responsibility we have to the public.

      If a neurosurgeon makes a mistake during surgery one patient can die. If we screw the pooch hundreds of innocent people can die.

      Furthermore, many of us learned our craft in the Air Force, Marines, or Navy, obligated to serve 10 years. You don’t sign on for shooting carrier approaches down to minimums during
      “pitch deck” exercises because you have your eyes on a Rolex and you don’t track fighters to
      dodge SAMs over Iraq so you can lease a BMW.
      You do it because you can’t imagine doing any other job.

    • Kev Reply
      November 27, 2020 at 7:45 pm

      Yea most pilots are greedy. Acting like the company is not struggling with revenue, and not willing to take concessions like the rest of the company employees. Shame on them.

    • Eric Xavier Reply
      November 28, 2020 at 11:21 am

      What a vitriolically vapid and inaccurate statement, Jason.

    • Holly Kamal Reply
      November 28, 2020 at 1:33 pm

      From the wife of a greedy pilot.

      They are greedy! They actually leave their own families to take others to be with theirs on holidays.

      They skip Christmas morning, and Thanksgiving feasts, in trade for a microwave …in flight or hotel.

      They walk thousands of steps in a day to get to the gates, while they may be missing babies first steps at home.

      They wake up at whichever hour of the night, on demand, to leave their warm bedside… and race to a city they had no intent on seeing that day, week, or year.

      They get divorced, have losses, suffer real life … and still put on a smile and give a handshake to each flyer as they board.

      They dress for success, and fly thousands of miles without the comfort of yoga pants, sweats, or a pair of running shoes.

      If they have any error… AT ALL… they are privy to being video taped, formally complained about, and even screamed at…. making you late for your next flight. And so on.

      Mach speed, cannot undo the 5 minutes that stole away a perfect arrival time… regardless of weather, mechanics, or rowdy customers delaying flights.

      They are the last to get off the flight, and held highly responsible for most any issue along the flyers path.

      They will end their 5 day trip, on a 3 am start, after criss crossing the country…. only to forego their deadhead for an earlier flight… to catch the last 5 min of a soccer game.

      They take you into the arms of family, to the bedside of the ill, and into the base to protect this country.

      They save literally thousands of lives a year…. and it’s not your job to know, how close it came…. and few share those details.

      They are greedy for all of that attention you speak of and more…

      Love the wife of a greedy pilot

      • Josh Christie Reply
        November 30, 2020 at 7:13 am

        Ma’am,

        As a service member who was able to fly home to be with his wife after she had emergency surgery because pilots showed up to work let me say THANK YOU to all pilots and their families for their service.

        • Holly Kamal Reply
          November 30, 2020 at 4:51 pm

          Hey, Thank you Josh; for your gratitude and for your service. May God bless you and yours with health and safety always.

    • Shane Reply
      November 28, 2020 at 2:43 pm

      I left the pilot industry because pilots are grossly underpaid. You spend years after your certification building time to get into an airline which will start you at 32k to 40k year.

    • Andrew Reply
      November 28, 2020 at 7:46 pm

      Jason you have no idea how dangerous it is up there, it’s not easy as you think, don’t be so rude. Safety first.

    • Seaguy Reply
      November 29, 2020 at 12:08 am

      You sound like Delta management.

  2. Batchcaloupe Reply
    November 27, 2020 at 1:57 pm

    Delta’s silence speaks volumes!!!

  3. compspy Reply
    November 27, 2020 at 2:07 pm

    @Jason, How would you feel if company you work for cut your pay while taking government help, making poor decision(Stock buy backs) and have money to keep you at a full pay.

    If I were a pilot why would I prioritize working instead of spending time with family considering company did not sacrifice things for me and my only options were furlough or pay cut.

    • Anonymous Reply
      November 27, 2020 at 5:35 pm

      Good point!!!

    • J at Q Reply
      November 27, 2020 at 7:11 pm

      And to add to that, the staffers Matthew spoke to smack of truth to me. No one harms our airline’s reliability like Crew Scheduling and Training Scheduling. Why worry about tomorrow when we can light off this big, beautiful dumpster fire?

    • Dave Reply
      November 27, 2020 at 11:29 pm

      Jason, you’re right. They just call out sick for the holidays when they can’t get them awarded off, and the pilots who have lost their qualifications have been calling out sick for training events so they can continue to be paid and marked “lost qual” for their trips. They’re only there for the corporate welfare checks.

  4. Bob Reply
    November 27, 2020 at 5:11 pm

    The planes were near empty. You stop the cash bleed by cancelling losing flights rebooking people onto other flights. Saves millions upon millions of losses. It’s all. due to the sales drop because of covid restrictions placed on people. Very simple to figure out. From an FA working at full pay.

    • Bob Reply
      November 28, 2020 at 10:34 am

      Excellent point Bob! But no, it HAD to be staffing. Lol

  5. Jdubs Reply
    November 27, 2020 at 7:03 pm

    Why bother to enumerate a list of reasons for these cancellations if your conclusion intended to blame the pilots? It is not the pilots who created the training backlog. Delta’s poor management was the sole reason for these cancellations. They have made the decisions of how to manage first having what they considered too many pilots and now what appears to be too few. Those decisions are what led to this holiday’s efficiency meltdown

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      November 27, 2020 at 8:58 pm

      How does my conclusion “blame” pilots? If anything, it blames Delta and Amazon.

      • Bryan Reply
        December 1, 2020 at 12:03 pm

        Matthew, you float the idea of a sick out without a shred of evidence to back it up just to stir the pot. Try printing reality instead of conjecture and maybe you’ll have some credibility.

  6. Emma Reply
    November 27, 2020 at 8:50 pm

    Delta did a great job rescheduling my cancelled flights. A couple hours time difference from the originals, but it worked. Matthew got HAMMERED by readers in an earlier blog for Speculating (with a capital S) as to why Delta was canceling flights. Nice cover Matthew, amazing what a little research will do….

    • Cheryl Reply
      November 29, 2020 at 4:46 pm

      Basically, the writer of the article admits he knows nothing and makes several suggestions I couldn’t care less about. Worthless. Except to needlessly anger pilots and their families.

  7. Mark Reply
    November 27, 2020 at 9:33 pm

    Delta’s decision to wait to cancel was to force customers to rebook on DL as it was too late to take a refund and pay for new flights on the competition. A rare gamble by DL that takes cash preservation over customer satisfaction.

    • Mark Roderick Reply
      November 27, 2020 at 10:13 pm

      What is your source for assumption number 1? At least before the pandemic that wasn’t the case

  8. 321 Driver Reply
    November 28, 2020 at 12:05 am

    I reported last weekend a temperature of 101 while at cruise. Delta immediately pulled both of us off the trip & we entered a 14 day quarantine. Many pilots are out on Cov Sars 2 positive test. We are essential front line workers and are exposed everywhere.

    There were an incredible amount of trips starting on the 25th that had no pilots assigned, and none available on the reserve list. Those trips didn’t exist earlier in November.

    Steve Dickson left Delta as VP Flt Ops to lead FAA. Those who filled his role have been challenged this year on multiple fronts. They let 1,800+ pilots retire Sept 1, sidelined 1,700 set to be furloughed, and didn’t train the replacements yet for the early retirements.

    Daily trip coverage this week showed pilots picking up their 1,2,3, and 4th overtime trips. Pilots did their part to help cover trips. Many gave up time with family over Thanksgiving to cover trips for Delta. Can’t speak for sick calls, imagine they were very low. Delta pilots just signed a letter of agreement to prevent furloughs and augment the contract. It passed 75% to 25%. The pilot group is happy as can be expected in these severe economic conditions. At the beginning of November, most trips seemed covered. It appears at some point, marketing added a lot of flying over Thanksgiving and there simply wasn’t enough pilot block hours available to cover using all recourses.

    Thanksgiving cancelations in my opinion are strictly a flight ops management failure to crew the airline and that’s why they won’t give you an explanation.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      November 28, 2020 at 11:37 am

      Thanks for weighing in. Take care of yourself. My best wishes to you during this time.

    • Anna Reply
      November 28, 2020 at 2:39 pm

      Thank you, take good care of yourself and family. This is undoubtably the real reason, marketing under pressure not looking at bigger picture. I seriously think senior employees that retired would have sounded alarms and not have let any of this happen. Good luck Delta, Christmas is near.

  9. Stephen Wales Reply
    November 28, 2020 at 3:42 am

    Bottom line: No matter what the explanation is, management is responsible for running their company and for this failure to operate it as advertised. In the long run customers will make the company pay by taking their business to the competition. Something for all employees to consider.

  10. Nola Reply
    November 28, 2020 at 10:14 am

    Blah blah blah blah I will be home for Christmas

  11. Bob Reply
    November 28, 2020 at 10:37 am

    Right geniuses, it just HAS to be staffing. Can’t POSSIBLY be the sudden mass passenger cancellations because of recent ThanksGiving restrictions because of covid.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      November 28, 2020 at 10:38 am

      Yes, that is correct. Delta doesn’t cancel empty flight. Sorry to burst your bubble, genius…

  12. Luis Bengochea Reply
    November 29, 2020 at 8:40 am

    Why you just mention Delta air lines, when there are hundreds of other airlines with the same situations????

  13. Pingback: Delta Toilet Steak Cooking Video was a FAKE! Rome Will Offer COVID-Tested Flights with Delta. - Renés Points

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