Airports Face Ongoing Backlog: What's The Current Situation?

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the airline industry, with travel disruptions and airport chaos continuing into 2022. On a single day in July 2022, airports worldwide recorded over 25,000 flight delays and 3,1000 cancellations, with the US alone seeing 19 airports experience delays in at least 20% of their flights. The summer of 2022 saw a similar trend, with hundreds of daily cancellations and thousands of delays for flights to, from, or within the US. The primary culprit for these disruptions is attributed to a shortage of pilots, exacerbated by the pandemic as older pilots retired or left the industry. Additionally, airlines and airports continue to grapple with staffing shortages, making them more susceptible to delays. The situation has led to increased airfares and reduced flight options for travellers.

Staff shortages

The pandemic's impact on the travel industry was devastating, with holidays banned and strict entry rules enforced. In response, the aviation industry was forced to cut its workforce, including cabin crew, pilots, ground operations staff, and other employees. In the UK alone, 30,000 staff were laid off from airlines over two years. Now, with travel restrictions lifted, these businesses are scrambling to hire enough staff to handle the surge in bookings.

The shortage of staff has created a domino effect, with key operational areas such as flight crew, airport security, and ground/baggage handlers being massively understaffed. This has resulted in long delays for travellers, with airlines like easyJet and TUI facing scrutiny. Additionally, COVID-related illnesses continue to impact staffing levels, as valuable employees are forced to stay home.

The aviation industry is also facing a skills shortage, with companies like easyJet rejecting thousands of applications from EU citizens due to post-Brexit work restrictions. The UK labour market's record number of vacancies and low unemployment rate further narrow the pool of candidates. To address these challenges, the UK government has implemented measures to expedite security checks for new recruits, allowing them to begin training before completing all security checks.

The disruption caused by staff shortages has led to long queues, lost luggage, extended layovers, and disappointed travellers. Industry leaders have been accused of failing to act quickly enough, optimistically overselling tickets, and not adequately planning for the surge in demand. While some argue that the cancellations are a small proportion of global flights, the impact on passengers has been highly disruptive.

Pilot shortages

While there is no recent information on whether airports are still backed up, staffing shortages have been a significant issue in recent years. Notably, in 2024, a major US airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), faced chaos due to understaffed controllers, resulting in emergency 'traffic management programs' and lengthy delays.

One of the critical issues contributing to airport backups is the pilot shortage. This shortage has had a significant impact on airlines and airports, causing delays, cancellations, and reduced flight schedules.

The pilot shortage has had a ripple effect on the aviation industry. Airlines have struggled to meet the demand for flights, leading to frustrated passengers and a decline in customer satisfaction. With a limited number of pilots, airlines have had to make difficult decisions regarding flight schedules and routes. This has resulted in reduced flight frequencies and, in some cases, the cancellation of less popular routes. Consequently, passengers have experienced a decrease in the availability of flights, making it more challenging to book their preferred travel dates and destinations.

The pilot shortage has also contributed to an increase in flight delays and cancellations. With a limited pool of pilots, airlines have struggled to cover all their scheduled flights, leading to last-minute cancellations and delays that disrupt passengers' travel plans and cause frustration. These disruptions can have a domino effect, impacting subsequent flights and causing further delays and cancellations.

Furthermore, the pilot shortage has had a financial impact on airlines. Training new pilots is a costly and time-consuming process, and the shortage has forced airlines to offer higher salaries and improved benefits to attract and retain pilots. This has resulted in increased operational costs for airlines, which they may pass on to passengers in the form of higher ticket prices.

To address the pilot shortage, airlines have implemented various strategies. Some airlines have focused on recruiting and training new pilots, investing in flight schools, and offering competitive salaries and benefits. Others have explored alternative solutions, such as semi-retirement programs that allow senior pilots to reduce their flying hours while remaining employed, thereby retaining their experience and knowledge within the industry.

While these strategies aim to alleviate the pilot shortage, the issue remains a challenging one for the aviation industry. The shortage has highlighted the critical need for a sustainable pipeline of talented pilots to ensure the safe and efficient operation of airlines and airports worldwide.

Covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic had a massive impact on air travel, with airports becoming ghost towns as a result of stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions. International travel was particularly affected, with officials warning that travel was a key way that COVID-19 spread. Airports reported record-low bookings of passenger and business flights, and the number of travelers dropped dramatically. For example, at Harrisburg International Airport, the number of travelers fell from 15,529 on February 17, 2020, to just 505 on March 30, 2020.

The pandemic also had a significant financial impact on the aviation industry, with airlines having to stretch funds received from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to stay afloat. Airports also suffered financially, with a loss of revenue from parking facilities and reduced demand for flights.

However, as vaccines were administered and stimulus dollars paid out, passengers gradually returned to airports. By the last week of March 2021, airports were experiencing one of the busiest travel weeks since the pandemic. This trend continued, and by July 2024, air travel demand had continued to increase rapidly in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, with more passengers buying tickets than ever.

Despite this overall increase in air travel demand, some airports have seen a decline in passenger numbers. For example, Southwest Florida International Airport, Kahului Airport, Key West International Airport, Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, and Atlantic City International Airport all experienced a decline in passenger traffic between 2022 and 2023.

To entice wary travelers back to airports, many airports have invested in smoother security processes, improved experiences and entertainment options, and stress-relieving initiatives such as yoga and therapy dogs. For example, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport now offer free programs that allow travelers to reserve time slots to go through security during busy hours.

In addition, some airports have brought back free live entertainment and performances, just in time for the holiday season. For instance, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport set up a bright red mailbox to collect letters to Santa, and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has a holiday performance series.

Overall, while the aviation industry has shown remarkable resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still some uncertainties and challenges ahead, particularly regarding business travel and international travel.

Bad weather

When faced with bad weather, the decision to cancel or delay flights rests with the airline, prioritizing safety concerns. Passengers are generally not entitled to compensation for disruptions caused by adverse weather conditions, as these are considered "extraordinary circumstances" beyond the airline's control. However, passengers may be eligible for certain benefits and assistance, such as rebooking or refunds, and should refer to their airline's policies and travel insurance coverage for clarification.

To minimize the impact of bad weather, some airports are strategically designed and equipped to handle specific weather events. For example, airports in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and Japan have infrastructure and systems in place to withstand floods, typhoons, and earthquakes due to their geographical locations. Other airports are also enhancing their resilience by developing climate change adaptation plans and investing in emergency preparedness.

In recent years, several airports have experienced significant weather-related disruptions. Notable examples include the closure of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport due to Tropical Storm Elsa in 2021 and the temporary suspension of operations at Auckland Airport following flooding and excessive winds from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.

To manage the impact of bad weather, airports are advised to invest in robust IT systems that can support prediction, information dissemination, and response capabilities. Additionally, off-premises cloud-based solutions offer greater resilience during crises, ensuring the continuity of services.

• Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH): Houston's thunderstorms and proximity to the Gulf of Mexico contribute to a high percentage of weather-related delays.
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): Low-hanging clouds and proximity to other major Northeast airports impact operations.
• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): Extreme weather, including thunderstorms, hail, and snow, can cause significant disruptions and damage to aircraft.
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): Snowstorms, low clouds, and wind frequently impact this busy airport.
• Denver International Airport (DEN): Snowstorms, wind, and thunderstorms are common challenges, affecting flight schedules and causing bumpy rides.
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS): Winter weather and high winds frequently result in lengthy delays.
• New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA): Snowstorms and flooding from storms like Superstorm Sandy in 2012 have disrupted operations.
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD): Snowy days, thunderstorms, and windy conditions contribute to a high number of weather-related delays.
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO): Persistent fog and low clouds, combined with runway layout constraints, result in frequent delays.
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): Wind, snow, and thunderstorms cause delays, with a high percentage of weather-related disruptions.

Air traffic control

To recover from such situations, airports employ various strategies. Firstly, most airports do not operate at 100% capacity all the time, allowing them to accommodate extra flights during less busy periods to catch up. Even those that are at or near full capacity can recover by imposing minor delays for a few hours, gradually reducing the delay as traffic decreases.

In the case of extremely busy airports like Heathrow, which operates at nearly 100% capacity, managing delays becomes more challenging. Heathrow utilizes a "hold" stack system, where aircraft wait in a queue before landing. This system can absorb minor delays without significant disruption, as long as there is a continuous flow of aircraft in the stack. However, more significant issues, such as unfavourable weather conditions, may require flight cancellations to reduce overall capacity. In such cases, the airport, air traffic control (ATC), and airlines work together to determine which flights to cancel, prioritizing less frequent, long-distance routes.

Additionally, ATC may implement ground stops, preventing inbound flights from departing their origin until capacity is available at the destination airport. Effective air traffic control is crucial to ensuring the smooth flow of air travel, especially at busy airports. By closely monitoring capacity, utilizing queues, and making timely decisions about delays or cancellations, ATC plays a vital role in minimizing disruptions and ensuring traveller safety.

While airports strive to recover from delays, travellers are advised to expect delays and plan accordingly, demonstrating patience and compassion for fellow travellers and gate agents.

Frequently asked questions