Delta Air Lines is seeking to bring its cancellation rate under control before the peak summer travel season, following a period of operational disruption that has seen its reliability rankings slip.
The carrier, typically regarded as one of the most dependable US airlines, has recorded a higher rate of domestic flight cancellations than the industry average this year. During the first weekend of May, it cancelled hundreds of flights because of weather disruptions that did not ground most other carriers; only Spirit Airlines, which suspended operations that weekend, cancelled more.
Internal memos cited in the Wall Street Journal reveal that Delta is increasing the number of staff responsible for tracking pilot and crew schedules. Cancellations attributed to pilot availability stand at more than ten times historical levels, accounting for 35 per cent of mainline cancellations, compared with 7 per cent in 2024.
Ryan Gumm, senior vice president of flight operations, wrote that it can take 12 hours to find a pilot for a single trip, and that the acceptance rate for additional flights has fallen to just 2 per cent from 37 per cent a year earlier. The union representing Delta's pilots said they are working more overtime than ever, and noted an industry-wide shortage. Eric Criswell, the union chairman, said Delta started 2026 with roughly 800 fewer pilots than needed.
Delta hired 500 pilots in 2024, less than half the number recruited the previous year, while rivals American and United hired hundreds more. Despite these challenges, Delta remains the most profitable US airline, having earned $14.7 billion over the past five years, nearly double its nearest competitor.
