Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A glitch in a scheduling platform used by American Airlines pilots allowed thousands of them to drop flights, leaving 12,000 services in July without a captain, a first officer, or both.
It’s normal for pilots to be able to drop or pick up flights, but the glitch offered unusual opportunities for time off in an extremely busy period, as summer schedules peak and demand bounces back following two years of Covid-19 disruptions.
News of the error came from the Allied Pilots Association (APA), the union for American Airlines pilots, which released a statement on its website on 2 July.
“Once again, AA’s operational mismanagement is at the heart of an issue that will soon go public,” the statement read.
In response, the airline said: “As a result of this technical glitch, certain trip trading transactions were able to be processed when it shouldn’t have been permitted.
“We already have restored the vast majority of the affected trips and do not anticipate any operational impact because of this issue.”
American Airlines is currently in the midst of contract negotiations with the APA and has recently offered pilots a raise of nearly 17 per cent over the next two years. United Airlines has just reached a tentative agreement with the APA over salaries for pilots, which will go up by 14 per cent over 18 months.
Industrial action has seen pilots employed by Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines and FedEx take to picket lines across the United States in recent weeks, protesting over pay rates, benefits and scheduling.
An American pilot has claimed US flights are not safe for passengers as there is an “inhumane level” of pressure on pilots amid an intensifying nationwide pilot shortage.
American flyers need to be “concerned” about their safety because “there is a problem here”, warned Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the APA.
European airlines are facing similar challenges, with walk outs by hundreds of SAS pilots this week affecting around 30,000 passengers each day.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments