From the U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov

Transcript for: Airline Passenger Protections

Description: As air travel in the U.S. began to recover from the
pandemic in mid-2021, U.S. passenger airlines experienced frequent
flight disruptions. Flight cancellation rates in the last 6 months of
2021 outpaced 2018 and 2019 rates despite 14 percent fewer scheduled
flights, according to GAO's analysis of data from the Department of
Transportation (DOT). In light of the persistence of flight disruptions,
DOT has increased its monitoring of airlines' scheduling practices.

Related GAO Works: GAO-23-105524 - Airline Passenger Protections:
Observations on Flight Delays and Cancellations, and DOT's Efforts to
Address Them 

Released: April 2023

   When demand for air travel dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic,
commercial airlines took steps to cut costs, such as suspending hiring
and reducing staff. 

The industry has largely recovered, but cancellations and delays have
persisted - affecting millions of passengers. In late 2021, most
disruptions were due to factors within an airline's control, such as
airplane maintenance or lack of crew.

The Department of Transportation has increased its monitoring of
airlines' scheduling practices in light of the persistence of the flight
disruptions.

It is important for DOT to sustain these efforts heading into the busy
summer holiday travel period.

   [ End ]

For more info, check out our report GAO-23-105524 at: GAO.gov