Cites Pilot Shortage For Cancelling The Service Until Late May

Via Airlines has cancelled all of its flights between Baton Rouge, LA and Austin, TX, citing a shortage of qualified pilots to operate the routes.

The Advocate newspaper reports that the Orlando, FL-based airline has confirmed that it has shifted to a seasonal schedule following Mardi Gras. Service had reportedly been "spotty" between Baton Rouge and Austin recently, with the LSU baseball team being forced to take a 7-hour bus ride home from Austin last month when their flight on Via was cancelled.

Don Bowman, the director of planning and business development for Via Airlines, said that the carrier needs time to train its next class of pilots. Four pilots recently finished ground training, but have not accumulated enough simulator time and completed line checks that are necessary to become official Via pilots. Another class of four pilots will be starting "soon", according to the report.

Baton Rouge Metro airport spokesman Jim Caldwell said the problem stems from the nationwide pilot shortage, and that Via Airlines simply decided to suspend the route rather than trying to make it work and disappointing or stranding more customers.

Via plans to resume flights to Austin, TX just before the Memorial Day weekend. Bowman said full refunds will be offered to passengers who had booked flights.

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FMI: Source report