JetBlue planes at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport
Leslie Josephs | CNBC
JetBlue Airways is planning to trim its summer time schedule to keep away from flight disruptions because it scrambles to rent forward of what executives count on to be a monster peak journey season.
“We’ve already lowered May capability 8-10% and you’ll count on to see the same dimension capability pull for the rest of the summer time,” Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue’s COO and president, mentioned in an electronic mail to workers on Saturday, which was seen by CNBC.
The airline canceled greater than 300 flights over the weekend, per week after unhealthy climate in Florida kicked off lots of of flight cancellations and delays on JetBlue and different carriers.
Airlines are scrambling to workers as much as deal with a surge in vacationers this spring and summer time. Staffing shortages contributed to lots of of flight cancellations and delays final summer time and airways executives have been in search of methods to keep away from a repeat.
“Despite these challenges and, primarily based in your suggestions that the schedule is wound too tight, we all know the perfect plan is to cut back capability now,” Geraghty wrote. “I believe everybody acknowledges that the business nonetheless stays very a lot in restoration mode, so we imagine this proactive step is the proper resolution.”
JetBlue did not instantly reply to a request for remark.
Alaska Airlines final week mentioned it might trim its schedule 2% via the tip of June to deal with a pilot scarcity after canceling dozens of flights earlier within the month due to staffing shortages.
“We’ve lately let down a few of our valued visitors by canceling an uncommon variety of flights,” Alaska mentioned Friday. “The major reason behind cancellations is the scarcity of pilots accessible to fly versus what was deliberate after we constructed our April schedule in January.”
In her electronic mail, JetBlue’s Geraghty mentioned the airline has employed 2,500 folks up to now this 12 months and continues to be short-staffed. She added that the airline will share different measures to keep away from disruptions with workers within the coming weeks.
“In the meantime, any and all concepts are welcome,” she wrote.
JetBlue final week disclosed a $3.6 billion bid for finances provider Spirit Airlines, throwing into query that low cost airline’s deal to merge with fellow ultra-low-cost provider Frontier Airlines.
U.S. airline executives will begin detailing their staffing and capability plans beginning this week when Delta Air Lines experiences first-quarter outcomes. Other carriers report later within the month.