Delta Airlines Announced Flight Reductions Due to Staff Shortages, Weather

GEORGIA – Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines announced Thursday that travelers should expect disruptions over Memorial Day weekend as well as cuts to its flight schedule due to operational challenges.

Weather disruptions and short-staffing are the culprits behind the airline’s decision to reduce flights this summer, along with an increase in COVID-19 cases among employees, the airline said.

In March, Delta pilots picketed at the Atlanta airport to protest overscheduling. Delta's members of the Air Line Pilots Association International said the airline doesn't have enough pilots staffed to make up for when there are flight disruptions that require rescheduling.

Delta said it expects to see 2.5 million passengers over the Memorial Day weekend, up 25 percent from 2021.

“More than any time in our history, the various factors currently impacting our operation — weather and air traffic control, vendor staffing, increased COVID case rates contributing to higher-than-planned unscheduled absences in some work groups — are resulting in an operation that isn’t consistently up to the standards Delta has set for the industry in recent years,” said Chief Customer Experience Officer Allison Ausband in a statement.

"We deeply appreciate the energy and efforts of our people and the confidence of our customers as we adapt and pivot to ensure we provide the airline-of-choice experience we're so proud to be known for."

Updates will be sent to customers if their flights are delayed, Delta said.

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