Thursday 30 June 2022 08:03 PM Thousands have their flights canceled as pilots' union says 88% due to staff ... trends now The crisis in the airline industry appears set to continue over the Fourth of July holiday as thousands face delays and cancelations amid a staff shortage and picketing pilots. On Thursday alone, 5,827 flights within, in or out of the United States have been delayed, while another 639 were canceled. This comes ahead of a holiday weekend which is expected to see 3.5 million Americans fly according to AAA. Newark Airport remains the most prolific in terms of cancelations, with 49, while Denver International has the most delays at 349. Travelers are already facing a difficult summer as airlines expect record demand and as they rebuild staff levels after thousands of workers left the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. American Airlines alone has delayed over 700 flights, but one pilot says that 88 percent are due to staff shortages and the delays are actually meant to spin the truth. Southwest Airlines pilots picket outside the terminal at Dallas Love Field on Tuesday, Passengers at the Delta terminal at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport On Thursday alone, 5,827 flights within, in or out of the United States have been delayed, while another 639 were canceled. This comes ahead of a holiday weekend which is expected to see 3.5 million Americans fly according to AAA Newark Airport remains the most prolific in terms of cancelations, with 49, while Denver International has the most delays at 349 Travelers are already facing a difficult summer as airlines expect record demand and as they rebuild staff levels after thousands of workers left the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic Delta Airlines pilots planned 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 Delta Airlines pilots planned 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. Dennis Tajer, active American Airlines pilot and the Communications Committee chairman for the Allied Pilots Association, claims that AA is delaying flights 24 hours instead of canceling to make the cancelation numbers appear lower. However, he noted that any flight delayed by 24 hours is essentially a stand-in for a canceled flight. 'American Airlines is claiming that they have the pilots to fly the summer schedule. They’ve said that they have a training backlog, but we’re good,' said Tajer. 'We don’t believe them. Based on our numbers, they do not have the pilots and staffing to get this done. We’re warned them for months and month. This is a broken record, the needle is skipping on the same groove of the vinyl.' Over 750,000 passengers have had their flights impacted in the month of June on American Airlines alone, with 75,000 just in the past two days. American Airlines alone has delayed over 700 flights, but one pilot says that the delays are actually meant to spin the truth Dennis Tajer, active American Airlines pilot and the Communications Committee chairman for the Allied Pilots Association, claims that AA is delaying flights 24 hours instead of canceling to make the cancelation numbers appear lower 'The house is on fire. We have buckets of water and they’ve told us not to move,' said Tajer, who claims that the solutions exist to better utilize pilots and let them work overtime, but that American refuses. 'What’s even worse we have solutions to better utilize us. We’ve told them for the last two summers, but they’re not interested.' American Airlines did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. In addition, the Biden Administration is blaming the airlines, saying it received billions in stimulus money to keep afloat during the pandemic and should stick the schedule it publishes. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said earlier this month that airlines had until July 4 to figure out the issues and work out the kinks so travelers can have a smooth summer holiday. Senator and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders demanded Washington fine airlines $55,000 per passenger for every flight cancellation they know can’t be fully staffed. 'The American people are sick of airlines ripping them off, canceling flights at the last minute and delaying flights for hours on end,' he said. Senator and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders demanded Washington fine airlines $55,000 per passenger for every flight cancellation they know can’t be fully staffed Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said earlier this month that airlines had until July 4 to figure out the issues and work out the kinks so travelers can have a smooth summer holiday United Airlines will cut about 50 flights a day out of Newark in an attempt to reduce long delays that the airline blames on airport construction and other issues. The cuts - about 12 percent of United flights in Newark - will start July 1 and last the rest of the summer. United is the main airline of Newark Liberty International Airport, which is just across the Hudson River from New York City, and gets heavy use from people living in and around the city. Only domestic flights will be reduced, a United spokeswoman said Thursday, adding that United will not drop any destinations from Newark. The airline got a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration to reduce flights, she said. Two weeks ago, Buttigieg called the chief executives of major U.S airlines to a virtual meeting to discuss thousands of recent flight cancellations and delays over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. He urged airlines to ensure they can reliably operate planned summer schedules. Delays and cancellations cost airlines a hefty sum, with delays costing airlines around $74 a minute, or $4,500 an hour. Defying tarmac delay rules means airlines are charged $27,500 per passenger, meaning one plane with 200 passengers could cost a $5.5million fine. For passengers, delays can cost about $47 of their time. In 2018, before the pandemic, delays and cancellations cost passengers almost $28 billion. Airlines are not required by law to compensate passengers for a cancellation or delay. Passengers have taken to social media to complain about how the delays and cancellations affected them, with many claiming they are 'nervous to fly.' Flight experts blame delays, cancelations on pilot shortage Many pilots are dissatisfied with their working conditions and plan to picket, as the Air Line Pilots Association claimed earlier this week its nearly 14,000 members are working longer hours even as airlines cancel thousands of trips. Aviation experts are blaming the delays and cancelations on pilot shortages, warning that it will take years to resolve the issue and that there will be a summer of chaos. Industry expert David Slotnick said: 'The pilot shortage won’t be solved in the next few years so the best thing airlines can do on that front is use the pilots they have as strategically as they can, scheduling flights properly and prioritizing routes as efficiently as possible.' Congressional leaders are demanding the airlines provide answers as to why there continues to be disruptions, especially since the industry received $50 billion in relief during the pandemic in an effort to keep business afloat. 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. Advertisement All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility