Washington, DC, May 10, 2022. Media contact: media@raa.org
Regional Airline Association CEO Faye Malarkey Black said as travel rebounds and the airline industry prepares for the peak summer season, flights are still being eliminated and cities are losing air service due to a worsening pilot shortage. She made the comments at TSA’s Summer Readiness event in Dallas.
“While demand is strong, I want to acknowledge we are grappling with a real and worsening pilot shortage that is challenging us across the industry to fully meet demand,” said Malarkey Black. “TSA throughput numbers show passengers from small airports have returned in strong numbers, yet more than 70% of U.S. airports have less service than they did in 2019.”
There were 188 communities that lost at least 25% of their air service, either during the pandemic or during the first half of 2022 as the pilot shortage worsened. RAA represents airlines that operate 43% of U.S. airline flights.
“Our industry is resilient and smart and always capable of accepting the next challenge,” she said.
Read a copy of RAA CEO Faye Malarkey Black’s remarks here.
About RAA
The Regional Airline Association (RAA) provides a unified voice of advocacy for North American regional airlines aimed at promoting a safe, reliable and strong regional airline industry. RAA serves as an important support network connecting regional airlines and industry business partners. In the United States, regional airlines operate 43% of scheduled passenger flights and provide the only source of scheduled air service to 66% of the nation’s airports. Regional airlines provide 75% or more of the air service in Alabama (81%), Alaska (87%), Arkansas (85%), Iowa (81%), Kansas (80%), Kentucky (76%), Maine (87%), Mississippi (94%), Montana (79%), North Dakota (87%), South Dakota (86%), Vermont (92%), West Virginia (92%). Regional airlines provide half or more of the air service in Idaho (74%), Illinois (54%), Indiana (59%), Michigan (60%), Minnesota (51%), Nebraska (65%), New Hampshire (73%), New Mexico (59%), North Carolina (56%), Ohio (56%), Oklahoma (55%), Oregon (62%), Pennsylvania (58%), Puerto Rico (71%), South Carolina (61%), Virginia (57%), Wisconsin (67%), and Wyoming (68%).