logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2022
23m 37s

The Summer of Airline Chaos

The New York Times
About this episode

Across the United States, airline travel this summer has been roiled by canceled flights, overbooked planes, disappointment and desperation.

Two and a half years after the pandemic began and with restrictions easing, why is flying still such an unpleasant experience?

Guest: Niraj Chokshi, a business reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

  • The question for many travelers is whether they can trust airlines to get them where they want to go on time. Here is what to know about the air travel mess.
  • Travelers on both sides of the Atlantic have endured long lines, delays or cancellations, and plenty of frustration. Is this the new normal?

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.

Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Up next
Yesterday
Inside the A.I. Talent Wars
The race to dominate artificial intelligence has become a scramble for talent, with tech companies offering pay packages of $250 million and poaching their competitors’ best employees.Mike Isaac, who covers the tech sector for The Times, explains why all the hype is raising fears ... Show More
26 m
Aug 24
‘Modern Love’: Bridget Everett Says A Best Friend Can Be Your Greatest Love
Stories of romantic love are everywhere, but the actor, singer and comedian Bridget Everett says that friendships deserve our attention, too. Onscreen and in everyday life.Last Fall, Everett appeared on Modern Love to talk about her HBO Original series “Somebody Somewhere,” which ... Show More
38m 49s
Aug 23
'The Interview': Jen Hatmaker's Life Exploded in Middle Age. So She Built a Better One.
The former evangelical star on waking up halfway through her life. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 
45m 43s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2022
Will air travel ever return to normal?
Images of queues, huge piles of luggage and even pilots loading their planes with cargo have plagued the media throughout the world. Airports have been in chaos for months as they have attempted to re-emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, with Europe, the UK and the USA all having s ... Show More
24m 47s
Jun 2023
Flying This Summer? Pack Your Patience
Staffing shortages caused major disruptions for air travelers last summer. Now air crew unions are pushing back against their bosses and losing patience with customers.   From "no toe nail clipping" to "leave the crying babies alone," we hear advice on how to make everyone’s flig ... Show More
26 m
Mar 2023
What’s causing the US airline chaos?
Recently, flying in the US seems to be more chaotic than calm. And while it may seem like this all started recently, the FT’s Chicago Correspondent Claire Bushey takes us back to a decision that happened in the 1970s that got us to where we are now.  Clips from NBC, PBS, CBS- - - ... Show More
19m 57s
Apr 2023
Airlines are looking to reclaim their groove
Airlines aren’t doing the hottest at the moment — just look at the headlines about Southwest’s latest spate of flight cancelations. According to Samuel Engel, senior vice president at the consultancy ICF, that’s been due to higher labor costs and a slowdown in highly-profitable b ... Show More
8m 49s
Jul 2022
Flight cancellations plague airlines as millions travel
If you thought it would be easier to fly than paying soaring gas prices this weekend, brace yourself. Flights are so overbooked and the schedule is so precarious that one airline is offering $10,000 for passengers to give up their seats. Plus, sources reveal who may have tried to ... Show More
1h 18m