Pilot training backlog could slow anticipated recovery at American Airlines

American Airlines is gearing up for what could be a busy summer travel season in the US by getting many of its jets that remain in storage ready to fly again by June. The carrier aims to “reactivate most” of its 855 mainline aircraft — plus many of its 544 regional aircraft — in Q2, American said in a SEC filing on Monday. The move comes as net bookings hover within 90% of 2019 levels, and load factors stand at roughly 80% on capacity that is still down 40-45% compared with two years ago. American’s latest outlook is positive news for an airline industry hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. After hemorrhaging cash for more than a year, several airlines expect to break even with the help of government payroll assistance this month. So good news for American, right? Maybe not if you ask the Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents pilots at the airline. American faces a lengthy training backlog as a result of both furloughed pilots and those who took voluntary leaves coming back, retraining crews from the four aircraft types that were retired during the crisis, and regular refresher training for active pilots, said APA spokesperson Dennis Tajer. “They’re going to have the metal out there, they’re going to have the passengers out there, but will they have the pilots to fly them?” he said.<br/>