Pilot shortage leads Horizon to cancel 6% of August flights

A shortage of pilots has led Horizon Air to cancel a significant number of flights this summer, including some 6% of the airline's flights in August, parent company Alaska Air Group confirms. Though the company says the cancellations reflect a broad industry shortage of cockpit crew, Horizon's pilot union lays blame at the carrier for policies that it says failed to address a looming shortage. Horizon made the cancellations proactively in a move that will enable Horizon to operate reliably the remainder of its network, the company said. The cancellations reflect just 2% of August flights operated by all of Alaska's subsidiaries, which include Horizon, Alaska Airlines and Virgin America. "Like the rest of the industry, Horizon Air is facing a shortage of pilots caused by attrition and unprecedented Alaska Air Group growth," says Alaska. <br/>