An increasing number of pilots are complaining of fatigue as airlines across the United States work to make up for lost revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Allied Pilots Association Communications Chair Dennis Tajer.
Allied Pilots Association is the labor union representing American Airlines pilots.
Speaking to Fox Business, Tajer said that there was a fourfold increase in the number of fatigue calls from American Airlines pilots in June alone, while on some days, there was a tenfold increase.
The chairman said this was a “warning sign that the system is under unnecessary duress.”
Tajer said the increase in fatigue calls was prompted by airlines scheduling too many flights compared to the number of trained and current pilots that they have, meaning pilots are either left exhausted or are beyond the legal limit of duty hours….