Scoot, the budget airline subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, has announced the cancellation of multiple flights scheduled for May 2024, citing operational challenges attributed to a shortage of aircraft parts within the industry.
According to CNA, Scoot confirmed on Thursday, 09 May 2024, that it had axed several flights due to various operational reasons, including a scarcity of spare parts resulting from supply chain disruptions.
“While we regret any inconvenience caused by this disruption, we have proactively reached out to affected passengers and arranged alternative flight options, including transfers to Singapore Airlines and other Scoot services,” the carrier stated.
Passengers unable to secure alternative arrangements have been offered full refunds for the unused portions of their tickets.
The cancellation of flights by Scoot comes amidst a global resurgence in air travel demand, nearly rebounding to pre-pandemic levels. However, the aviation industry is grappling with significant shortages of parts, labor, and new aircraft.
Aerospace giants such as Airbus and Boeing are struggling to meet the heightened demand, exacerbated by the loss of skilled manpower during the COVID-19 pandemic and disruptions to the global supply chain caused by geopolitical tensions, including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The scarcity of critical materials, such as aerospace-grade Titanium and Inconel, used in aircraft manufacturing, has further compounded the industry’s challenges. In addition, a manufacturing flaw in engines produced by US aerospace company RTX has led to the grounding of hundreds of Airbus A320neo jets, exacerbating supply chain constraints and delaying repairs.