Aircraft operators rebound but continue to struggle with delays

ABSTRACT

Reynolds discusses the rebound of aircraft operators and struggle with delays. After a 70% drop in aviation operations and a 90% reduction in passengers during the first half of 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic, passenger demand by mid-2022 was close to pre-pandemic levels. However, flight numbers were still down slightly due to airline flight crew and air traffic control staffing challenges, which led to large numbers of delays, cancellations and other disruptions worldwide. Nearly a quarter of all US flights were delayed by an average of an hour each during June-August. There was an increased focus on climate impacts of aviation throughout the year following the publication of the US Aviation Climate Action Plan in Nov 2021, which details the key role that aircraft operations enhancements will continue to play in reducing climate impacts.