On Friday, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, asked why some American airline companies are reporting workforce shortages, flight cancellations, and delays in light of the billions the airlines received in federal payroll support.
In a letter to the CEOs of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Republic Airways, and Allegiant Airlines asking for information regarding the current state of airline travel which, she said, is creating havoc and frustrating consumers as more Americans get back to traveling again. Money received from stimulus packages, Cantwell said, was supposed to fund retraining airline workforces and to ensure that carriers were prepared to ramp up when travelers returned.
“I am deeply concerned by recent reports highlighting…workforce shortages that have caused flight cancellations and generated delays for passengers,” Cantwell wrote. “These shortages come in the wake of unprecedented federal funding that Congress appropriated, at the airlines’ request, to support the airline industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Cantwell asked the airlines to account for how it used federal funds and provide more information on current and projected workforce shortages.
“Congress recognized the need to ensure that airline workers, including pilots, flight attendants, baggage crews, customer service professionals, contractors, and others could retain their jobs and, in turn, keep the airline industry operating safely for the American public,” she wrote. “This reported workforce shortage runs counter to the objective and spirit of the PSP, which was to enable airlines to endure the pandemic and keep employees on payroll so that the industry was positioned to capture a rebound in demand.”
The airlines have until July 30 to respond, according to Cantwell’s letter.