JetBlue is slicing its summer time schedule to keep away from additional flight disruptions

JetBlue planes at New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport

Leslie Josephs | CNBC

JetBlue Airways is planning to trim its summer time schedule to keep away from flight disruptions because it scrambles to rent forward of what executives count on to be a monster peak journey season.

“We have already decreased Could capability 8-10% and you’ll count on to see an analogous measurement capability pull for the rest of the summer time,” Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue’s COO and president, stated in an electronic mail to employees on Saturday, which was seen by CNBC.

The airline canceled greater than 300 flights over the weekend, per week after unhealthy climate in Florida kicked off lots of of flight cancellations and delays on JetBlue and different carriers.

Airways are scrambling to employees as much as deal with a surge in vacationers this spring and summer time. Employees shortages contributed to lots of of flight cancellations and delays final summer time and airline executives have been in search of methods to keep away from a repeat.

“Regardless of these challenges and, primarily based in your suggestions that the schedule is wound too tight, we all know the most effective plan is to cut back capability now,” Geraghty wrote. “I feel everybody acknowledges that the business nonetheless stays very a lot in restoration mode, so we imagine this proactive step is the proper determination.”

JetBlue did not instantly reply to a request for remark.

Alaska Airways final week stated it will trim its schedule 2% by means of the tip of June to deal with a pilot scarcity after canceling dozens of flights earlier within the month due to staffing shortages.

“We have just lately let down a few of our valued visitors by canceling an uncommon variety of flights,” Alaska stated Friday. “The first reason behind cancellations is the scarcity of pilots obtainable to fly versus what was deliberate once we constructed our April schedule in January.”

In her electronic mail, JetBlue’s Geraghty stated the airline has employed 2,500 individuals to this point this yr and remains to be short-staffed. She added that the airline will share different measures to keep away from disruptions with employees within the coming weeks.

“Within the meantime, any and all concepts are welcome,” she wrote.

JetBlue final week disclosed a $3.6 billion bid for finances provider Spirit Airways, throwing into query that low cost airline’s deal to merge with fellow ultra-low-cost provider Frontier Airways.

US airline executives will begin detailing their staffing and capability plans beginning this week when Delta Air Strains reviews first-quarter outcomes. Different carriers report later within the month.