JetBlue Blames New Pilot Rest Rules For Its Massive Disruptions
Skift Take
Airlines are going to have to do some additional pilot hiring to cope with the new pilot rest rules and inclement weather, which isn't so out of the norm in the Northeast, where JetBlue operations are concentrated. It is hard to believe that JetBlue might not have done more to reduce the extent of the disruption that its passengers are facing over the next few days.
JetBlue is resetting its schedule after massive flight cancelations and delays over the weekend, and the airline says new pilot rest rules that went into effect last week had a "major impact" on operations.
And, Airlines for America, says it's heard anecdotally from its airline members that the new rules were "a contributing factor" in the flight cancellations and delays.
The pilot rest rules "have had a major impact on airline operations this week due to the weather situation," JetBlue states. "As JetBlue is the leading carrier in Boston and New York, where the weather hit worst in the last few days, we also have another hit by the new pilot regulation due to the humber of delayed or cancelled flights."
JetBlue says it is resetting its operation to get passengers to their destinations, "but it
