Why Flying Might Be Complicated For Another YEAR

The airline industry has been through a lot over the past few years, facing challenges such as the global COVID-19 pandemic, staff shortages, high fuel prices, and more.

Travel has been in the news a lot lately

It hasn’t been easy for travelers either, as many of these factors mentioned above have caused delays and cancellations amid a surge in travel, which means lots of stranded passengers and high ticket prices. Many travelers are left wondering when exactly can we expect to see an improvement in the airline industry and one airline has a prediction.

Although air travel continues to be complicated for passengers all over the world, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently said that “overall delays are down” and that “we’ve seen good improvements,” according to acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen, as told to Reuters. Nolen noted, “The airlines are working to right size their network.”

Airplane

Although some airlines have blamed air traffic control staffing shortages for recent delays and cancellations, Nolen said that most air travel issues are not related to this issue. Nolen added, “We are on track to hire 1,000 controllers this year.”

Orlando International Airport

On the other side of the spectrum, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby recently said during an interview with CNBC that travelers could expect airline struggles for at least another year, or until next summer. According to Kirby, “The biggest challenge that faces us probably for the next 12 months is all the infrastructure challenges around aviation,” referring to staffing challenges, higher travel demand, and fuel prices.

Which airline is your favorite for traveling?

Kirby did say that there could be a gradual improvement in air travel but that it could take another 12 months to fully return to “normal.” Recently, United Airlines and many other airlines preemptively reduced their schedules in order to get ahead of increasing capacity. The FAA said that May saw an improvement in the 10 major U.S. airline carriers, with domestic flight cancellations and delays decreasing to 2% of all flights, as reported by Travel + Leisure.

Are you flying into Orlando this year?

Kirby also had advice for holiday travelers, recommending that travelers book early for the holiday season. According to Kirby, “there are going to be fewer seats available around the whole system, because the infrastructure around aviation can’t support it,” and United could reduce available flights in order to meet demand reliably.

Orlando International Airport

When it comes to visiting Disney World, you may have experienced flight delays if you’ve traveled through the Orlando International Airport recently. The Orlando Airport was ranked in a top 10 CNN list of global airports with the most summer delays, and not long ago we recommended getting to the airport as early as four hours before your flight (or at LEAST two hours) to account for long gate and security lines.

Orlando International Airport

If you’re planning a flight within the next 12 months, we recommend booking as early as possible. You could consider flying through the Orlando Sanford International Airport instead of Orlando International Airport for a potentially less busy experience, and you could also try driving if the higher gas prices aren’t a factor in your budget. But if you’re visiting this holiday season, you definitely want to book your flight ASAP.

A LOT of people are opting to drive right now

If you do end up traveling by air, we recommend downloading your airline’s app to keep up-to-date on your flight status, and you might want to be familiar with Disney World’s cancellation policies just in case. We also have quite a few guides you can review for all the potential travel scenarios you might face — the more you know, the better chance you have to save your trip!

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