Airlines’ plane shortages may affect summer travel, lift prices

WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Issues such as engine recalls and delayed plane deliveries persist for some airlines, potentially resulting in fewer planes available to meet demand that could drive up prices for consumers this summer.

Spirit Airlines announced plans to furlough 260 pilots beginning in September and to delay all new aircraft deliveries from the second quarter of next year through 2026 as it looks to save money.

The airline has faced financial losses over the past six quarters and faced a setback after a judge blocked its multibillion-dollar merger with JetBlue earlier this year due to antitrust concerns.

With some of its planes grounded, the airline finds itself with an excess of pilots.

“Deferring these aircraft gives us the opportunity to reset the business and focus on the core airline while we adjust to changes in the competitive environment,” the Spirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie III wrote in a statement.

Meanwhile, United Airlines has announced it’s asking pilots to take voluntary unpaid time off in May due to late deliveries of new planes from Boeing.

Boeing has faced scrutiny over its quality control and safety standards following a January incident involving an Alaska Airlines Max 9 plane, where a door plug blew off midflight.

United now expects to receive fewer plans from Boeing this year, while Southwest Airlines announced last month it also plans to receive fewer new planes from the manufacturer.

Amid the controversy, Boeing’s CEO Dave Calhoun has announced he’ll step down by the end of the year.