Switzerland’s national airline, Swiss, announced it will cancel about 1,400 flights from now until October. The cancellations come due to a serious shortage of pilots. The affected flights include short-haul routes from Zurich and Geneva across Europe, as well as long-haul trips to destinations like Shanghai and Chicago. Seasonal flights, such as the summer service to Hurghada, Egypt, have been fully suspended.
To cope with the shortage, Swiss has taken several short-term steps. These include asking part-time pilots to work more hours, buying back vacation days, and offering deferrals to pilots close to retirement. The airline is also collaborating with its pilot union, Aeropers, to improve schedules and reduce absences caused by fatigue. Despite these efforts, Swiss still needs about 70 more full-time pilots.
Passengers affected by cancellations will be rebooked on other flights operated by Swiss, the Lufthansa Group, or partners in the Star Alliance. In some cases, other airlines will help with travel. Customers can also choose to rebook or receive a full refund.
Swiss is not the only airline facing this challenge. Many European carriers are cutting summer schedules due to pilot shortages. KLM has reported struggles with long-haul staffing, even though it has more pilots than before. Increased sick leaves and part-time work have created a shortfall equal to 50 full-time pilots annually. To manage this, KLM plans to use Air France pilots for some long-haul flights from July to October, including Amsterdam to New York routes.
British Airways and easyJet are hiring aggressively and offering attractive benefits to attract new pilots. British Airways, for example, will pay the full cost of pilot training—up to €100,000—for 60 trainees each year. Despite these efforts, British Airways has already cut some summer routes, such as flights from London to Santorini, Mykonos, and certain parts of Croatia and Greece.
The current pilot shortage mainly stems from the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic paused pilot training and sped up retirements. In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration expects about 4,300 pilots to retire each year through 2042. Europe faces similar trends. Airlines that once had long waiting lists for pilots are now relaxing language and nationality rules to attract more applicants.
However, the key problem is the capacity to train new pilots. Boeing forecasts the global aviation industry will need 674,000 new pilots over the next 20 years. Consulting firm Oliver Wyman predicts that by 2032, the global shortfall could near 80,000 pilots, with 19,000 of those in Europe alone.
Passengers flying within or through Europe should expect some travel disruptions. Airlines are combining routes, cutting direct flights, and adding layovers. Experts recommend booking flights early, allowing extra time for connections, and staying updated on airline announcements.
Rebooking or refunds are options for many travelers, but finding the best alternative depends on how fast passengers act. As demand for seats grows, being flexible and quick to respond will help reduce summer travel issues.