Gas Costs, Pilot Shortages Contributing to Journey Points :: WRAL.com

THE BABIES AND CHILDREN HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA. >> SUMMER TRAVEL IS HEATING BUT CAN AIRPORTS KEEP WITH DEMAND? HAVE A NICE AFTERNOON. I’M JEFF HOGAN AND MICHELLE MACKONOCHIE IN FOR RENEE CHOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO US THIS AFTERNOON. SEVERAL AIRLINES ARE PLAYING WITH CANCELLATIONS AND CANCELED FLIGHTS DUE TO PILOT LACK. >> BAD WEATHER AND THESE HIGH FUEL PRICES. CHELSEA DONOVAN IS LIVE ON RDU INTERNATIONAL WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION THERE. CHELSEA. >> YES WE KNOW IT HAPPENED HERE AT RDU OVER THE WEEKEND FRIDAY UP TO HOLIDAY WEEKEND. BUT IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE RELIEF HAS ALREADY LANDED HERE. THEY TAKE A LOOK AT THE BOARD BEHIND ME, THEY SEE A LOT OF BLUE. IT’S GOOD. THAT MEANS ON TIME. VERY LITTLE ORANGE AND READ. THIS WILL BE YOUR DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS WILL YOU KEEP LOOKING THE TSA LINES TO THE GATE THERE? IT’S BEEN THIS ALL MORNING. We have spoken to individuals who could have skilled a 5-10 minute wait. THIS IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD COMPARED TO WHAT WE SAW ON FRIDAY. YOU CAN SEE THE LINE MOVES FAST. NOW I HAVE TALKED TO, ARE YOU JUST A FEW MINUTES BEFORE ABOUT 11, 45? THERE WERE ONLY 5 CANCELLATIONS OF DEPARTURE AND 3 DELAYS ON THE FLIGHTS ARRIVING HERE TO THE RDU ARE ONLY COUNTED. >> ABOUT 5 DELAYS NOW SO FAR. THIS IS FAR FROM WHAT WE SAW FROM FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND UNTIL FATHER’S DAY. JUST TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE: RALEIGH, DURHAM INTERNATIONAL HAS AROUND 375 FLIGHTS COMING IN AND OUT EVERY DAY. SO THIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS IN TERMS OF HOW MANY ARE DELAYED OR CANCELLED. NOW ANOTHER NEAR LIKE WE JUST SHOWED YOU THESE SHORTER TSA LINES OF ABOUT 10, 30 NOW. Like I stated, it is solely been about 5 minutes. THIS IS GOOD. THIS RELIEF COMES OFF. WHAT THE TSA CALLS THE MOST COMMON TRAVEL DAY OF THE YEAR. THAT WAS ON FRIDAY. MORE THAN 2.4 MILLION PEOPLE TRAVEL THROUGH THESE TSA CHECKPOINTS. AIRLINE CANCELLATIONS. IT WAS HUGE THROUGH THE WEEKEND. OVER 6,000 DELAYS OR CANCELLATIONS FROM FRIDAY TO SUNDAY. Now we spoke to a journey agent this morning. SHE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE PILOT WAS LACK OF PERSONNEL AND A LITTLE WEATHER. WHEN YOU PERFORM YOURSELF ON SUMMER TRIPS, YOUR ADVICE, PACK YOUR PATIENCE. >> WE WERE YEARS IN A PANDEMIC. SO IT WILL ONLY TAKE HOTELS, RESORTS, TSA AIRLINE STAFF JUST TO COME BACK AND THE DEMAND FOR TRAVEL IS SO HIGH NOW. SO WE ARE RIGHT THERE STILL A GAP THERE. >> SUMMER TART STARTS TOMORROW, ALMOST 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE IN THE SITUATION YOU GO THROUGH THE AIRLINE, YOU GO THROUGH A TRAVEL AGENCY. HAVE YOU STARTED PREDICTING FOR THIS RIDE DAY EARLIER? WE WILL WEIGH ALL THESE OPTIONS AND HAVE SOME SOLUTIONS SOON. AT 5 O’CLOCK. BACK TO YOU. PATIENTS. THERE DEFINITELY THE KEYWORD.