Airline ends service to Hawaii for 2022 due to pilot shortage

HONOLULU (KHON) — A scarcity of pilots within the U.S. has led to some airways chopping schedules. Pilots who’re left to choose up the slack have additionally been complaining of fatigue, citing security issues.

One airline is even chopping service to Hawaii for the remainder of the yr.

Solar Nation Airways clients acquired this message:

“As a result of present pilot scarcity impacting all U.S. airways, Solar Nation has regrettably elected to droop service to Honolulu, HI (HNL) for the 2022 journey season. Passengers who have been booked on impacted flights will mechanically be refunded to their unique type of cost for his or her reservation.”

Passengers don’t have to take any motion to get their refund. Nevertheless, the airline mentioned it’s unable to supply any extra reimbursement past a refund for rental vehicles, lodges, tickets bought on different carriers and different bills.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this short-term suspension of Honolulu service causes to our clients,” the message continued. “We’re looking forward to a return of Honolulu service for the 2023 journey season.”

A spokesperson for Solar Nation Airways gave KHON2 this assertion:

“Anticipating that we are going to proceed to be operationally constrained by workforce shortages, together with crew, Solar Nation is adjusting our summer time flying schedule to align higher with staffing and plane availability. We’re eliminating service to Fairbanks and Honolulu – two long-haul flights that may even save on excessive gasoline prices. We apologize to our friends for the change.”

Wendy Burt, Solar Nation Airways spokesperson

Hawaiian Airways canceled dozens of flights forward of the Easter vacation weekend, and rescheduling has not been simple. Most of the cancelations are as a result of pilot coaching and simulator certification points.

Final week, union leaders mentioned Southwest Airways pilots are struggling by means of an epidemic of fatigue as a result of poor scheduling practices, which have now escalated uncontrolled.

Southwest Airways Pilots Affiliation (SWAPA) and its Board of Administrators despatched an open letter to Southwest CEO Robert Jordan and different executives detailing how issues began final summer time when the variety of vacationers returned to regular flying capability. Together with the rise in flights got here the rise in pilot reviews to each the Aviation Security Motion Program and Southwest Airways’ Fatigue Security Advisory Group.

“Fatigue numbers have been climbing exponentially since final summer time with no significant makes an attempt by administration to mitigate them,” the letter mentioned. “April is already setting fatigue information. Fatigue, each acute and cumulative, has turn into Southwest Airways’ number-one security menace.”

Final week, the Allied Pilots Affiliation (APA), which represents 14,000 American Airways pilots, filed a lawsuit to cease its volunteering program that encourages pilots to take part in simulator coaching classes on their days off.