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The US aviation system is expected to "remain challenged this summer and beyond" and the FAA needs more air traffic control staff, a senior United executive said on Wednesday. The FAA responded to United Wednesday, saying on July 3 and 4 "there were no FAA staffing-related delays at all, yet airlines still canceled over 1,100 flights, a quarter of which were United Airlines flights." Summer travelers face mounting flight cancellations as demand rises and the industry tries to rebuild staff levels after thousands of workers left during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The reality is that there are just more flights scheduled industrywide than the (air traffic control) staffing system can handle," United's chief operations officer, Jon Roitman, said in a message to staff. "Until that is resolved, we expect the U.S. aviation system will remain challenged this summer and beyond." The FAA said it "will continue to meet our responsibility to hold airlines accountable, while standing ready to collaborate where appropriate so that Americans can confidently expect safe, reliable, and affordable service whenever they purchase an airline ticket." US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who met June 16 with airline CEOs on summer travel issues, told CNBC on Tuesday that "air traffic control staffing issues do not explain the majority of delays and cancellations we've been seeing."<br/>

Air Canada said on Wednesday it will not allow animals in the baggage hold until Sept. 12 due to “longer than usual” delays at airports, as carriers and airports wrestle with complaints over lost luggage and long lines. Airlines in Europe, the United States and Canada are cancelling and delaying flights due to staffing shortages while traffic surges faster than expected after slumping during the pandemic. Passengers at airports from Toronto to Frankfurt have been sharing photos on social media of piled-up luggage near baggage belts. “Due to longer than usual airport delays, and for the safety and comfort of pets, we will not be accepting new requests for pets travelling in the baggage compartment until Sept. 12, 2022,” Air Canada said. Current pet bookings will be honoured, it said. Earlier this month, Canadian broadcast network CTV News reported that a dog flown by a different carrier had been left at Toronto Pearson International Airport with baggage for about 21 hours. Air Canada’s smaller rival WestJet Airlines said it will continue accepting animals. Canada’s government said on Wednesday it is working with industry to reduce congestion. The country’s transport minister met recently with the heads of Canada’s two largest airlines and airport.<br/>

Lufthansa staff have called on the German flag carrier to end its "cost-cutting craziness", accusing the airline of mismanagement and contributing to the recent chaos at airports by laying off too many workers. In a letter to the supervisory board seen by Reuters on Wednesday, staff representatives said there are too few employees to handle booming summer demand and they need to be given the right conditions to perform at their best. Chairman Karl-Ludwig Kley said in a message to employees that he was aware of employees' reports of aggression and in some cases even physical attacks by customers, "of despair and tears, of helplessness while remaining loyal to Lufthansa." "I have not seen such an accumulation of problems in my career," he said in the message published on the Lufthansa intranet and seen by Reuters later on Wednesday. Airspace closures and spare parts shortages due to the chip crisis are making the situation even worse, Kley said, adding he expects flight cancellations, staff recruitment and other measures introduced by Lufthansa to gradually bear fruit. Lufthansa had slashed jobs and other costs during the coronavirus pandemic, which grounded most flights, and found itself understaffed just as it was trying to capitalize on the returning summer travel demand.<br/>

Airline SAS headed into the third day of a crippling pilot strike which sent new bookings tumbling and prompted the cancellation of well over half its flights on Wednesday. The carrier, whose biggest owners are the Swedish and the Danish states, geared up for the first court date in its bankruptcy proceedings later in the week after it filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States on Tuesday to help cut debt. Talks between SAS and pilots over a new collective bargaining agreement collapsed on Monday, triggering a strike that adds to travel chaos across Europe and sparked heated trading of blame between management and unions in a region long praised for strong labour market models. There have been no negotiations with the Scandinavian airline since the strike broke out, a spokesperson for the Swedish Pilot Union told Reuters. "We are in principle still sitting and waiting for them at the table," SAS Chief Operating Officer Simon Pauck Hansen said. He said SAS had not been able to agree to a deal yet because the pilots had only met about half of the demands set out in the airline's comprehensive cost-cutting plan, which it says is crucial to its survival. "We must get the compensation level down so it matches other companies," Hansen said adding that SAS' pilots are about 30% more expensive if you measure what is being paid per day they fly compared to peers at other airlines in Denmark.<br/>

Asiana Airlines has introduced a craft beer called "Asiana Hoppy Lager," company officials said Wednesday, becoming the first carrier to roll out its own suds. Asiana Hoppy Lager is jointly developed by the airline, Korea Brewers Collective and convenience store chain CU. It is made from 95 percent malt and 5 percent hops to give both the aroma of ale and the freshness of lager. Korea Brewers Collective is a brand under Oriental Brewery specializing in the manufacture of craft beer. CU is one of the biggest convenience store chains in the country. Asiana designed the craft beer can with its iconic multicolored stripes featuring "Saekdong," which is found on the sleeves of the Korean traditional attire for girls. "Asiana Hoppy Lager is a product that contains the company's willingness to re-emerge in the travel industry. We hope our customers relish the joy of travel in their daily lives with our craft beer," an Asiana Airlines official said. The craft beer is available at CU conveniences stores across the country starting Wednesday. The beer will be sold to customers traveling on Asiana Airline's international flights. The carrier also said it will produce a short animated film in collaboration with movie director Han Ji-won. The film will portray a story of customers returning to travel after a long break due to COVID-19 pandemic.<br/>