Tuesday 28 June 2022 05:48 PM Hundreds of Delta Airlines pilots plan to picket this week as union slams FAA ... trends now
Hundreds of off-duty Delta Airlines pilots are planning to picket this week to demand an increase in pay and better schedules - as another 500 flights are axed today.
The Air Line Pilots Association claimed last night its nearly 14,000 members are working longer hours even as airlines cancel thousands of trips.
Delta Airlines pilots plan to start picketing on Thursday at several major airports including LAX, JFK and Atlanta, which are some of the most affected in terms of cancellations and delays.
The announcement comes amidst a rise in flight cancellations and delays. On Tuesday morning, airlines had already cancelled over 500 flights and delayed another 1,200, according to FlightAware.
The average Delta Pilot yearly pay in the United States is approximately $157,912, which is 119 percent above the national average, according to Indeed.
Passengers line up to check in before their flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. June 28, 2022 as airports see an increase in cancellations and delays
This graphic shows how many flights have been cancelled in recent days at US airports
FlightAware's Misery Map shows cancellations and delays by airport on June 28, 2022
Pilots have complained that thinly staffed airlines are asking them to work too many flights, with more pilots reporting fatigue.
The FAA has admitted it is understaffed, especially in an important air control center in Florida, which has meant a decrease in the quality of service and an increase in delays and cancellations.
The pilots plan to picket, not strike, on the days they are not scheduled to work in order to bring attention to the issues. Federal law creates a long and difficult process before airline workers can legally go on strike.
'The Delta pilots last signed a new contract in 2016 and are currently flying under work rules and pay rates negotiated over six years ago,' said Jason Ambrosi, a Delta pilot
