Do U.S. Airlines and Airports Have Enough Workers for a Summer Travel Surge? Maybe
Photo Credit: Returning travelers could find busy airports with fewer than the usual number of amenities this summer. Wikimedia / Chad Davis
Skift Take
Many are optimistic that travelers will flood back into airports and onto planes this summer taking long-delayed vacations. But that flood could hit some bumps as a national labor shortage threatens to hit many aspects of the flying experience.
Airlines are buoyant with optimistic outlooks for leisure travel this summer. In the U.S., many expect the number of vacationers to near or match 2019 levels during popular holiday periods, like July 4th, in the early innings of what could be a lengthy surge in leisure travel.
But while all these travelers are good for bottom lines, the rapid rise in numbers has created some headaches. In a foreboding sign, Seattle-Tacoma airport saw security queues stretching into a parking garage during busier-than-expected spring break travel in April. And as major airline hubs rebound quickly, many amenities travelers are used to — from concessions to airline lounges — remain shuttered.
“Just come to the [Atlanta] airport for a few hours to help with cleaning, wiping tables, running food, restocking food buffets, etc,” Delta Air Lines asked salaried staff at its Atlanta headquarters in a recent memo reported Bloomberg. The ask was part of an effort to make up for a staffing shortage a
