Many days have seen thousands of flight delays and cancellations, and airlines are taking longer to get their operations back on schedule when things go wrong. A shortage of pilots, while not the only reason, is a major factor. Airlines reduced staffing when demand for flights plunged early in the pandemic, and now they’re struggling to bounce back as people start traveling at pre-pandemic frequencies again. Laura Einsetler, a commercial pilot, estimates that as much as 30% of her company's overall workforce left during the pandemic. At least 10% of her airline's senior pilots retired, she said. Pilots across the industry say they're being stretched thin as airlines try to maximize summer schedules. For those planning to fly this summer, and even later into the year, things may remain unpredictable for a while. Airlines have announced schedule reductions, cutting as much as 10% of their flights and ending service to some cities as they scramble to match their timetables to their staffing levels. "The most important thing for our customers to understand is we, the Delta pilots, understand their frustration, and we're frustrated too," Evan Baach, a Delta Air Lines pilot and spokesperson for the Air Line Pilots Association told USA TODAY. In the meantime, experts say, there are things travelers can do to try to make their travel this summer go a little more smoothly. Click the link in our bio to find out how.