Proposals would ease standards, raise retirement age to address pilot shortage

A student pilot and flight instructor prepare to take off on a training flight outside of Phoenix. (David Schaper/NPR)

Air travelers just endured another weekend of widespread flight delays and cancellations. Airlines cancelled more than 5,100 flights that had been scheduled from Thursday, Aug. 4 through Monday, Aug. 8, and close to 30% of the flights that did take off were delayed.

It's something that's become all too common this summer, as airports have been busier than at any time since the pandemic began, but airlines struggle to meet the surge in air travel demand.