Airports, airlines, and air traffic in Türkiye are breaking records. The aviation industry is witnessing levels of success never seen before. However, behind this success story lies an exhausted group of professionals: cockpit and cabin crews, who are operating at their absolute limits during the busiest post-pandemic flying season.
Cabin crew members barely have time to see their own homes during peak season, and many are raising concerns about staff shortages within their companies.
One of the most pressing complaints? Certain flight attendants are assigned only to selected “special project” flights, which adds even more burden on the rest of the crew. For instance, Turkish Airlines (THY), in its bid to become a premium carrier, partnered with the consultancy firm Yates+. While this project aims to elevate service standards, it has also increased the workload of cabin staff.
Initially, select crews operating specific routes delivered strong results under this new model. However, as more routes were added, that workload expanded, and fell largely on the shoulders of those outside the project.
As flight numbers surge during the summer peak, many flight attendants not part of the project are finding their schedules stretched thin. Yet another layer has been added to the long-standing crew planning challenges in cabin services.
Based on this, we explored the biggest stressors flight crews are facing during high season. Here’s why some say they “don’t even have time to scratch their heads”:
1. Increased Passenger Volume
With higher passenger loads and fuller cabins, crews work significantly harder. They do their best to meet guest needs and deliver a pleasant flight experience, but the fast-paced catering service, enhanced safety checks, and maintaining order in a packed cabin all contribute to rising stress levels.
2. Constant Time Pressure
Turnaround times (the time between landing and the next takeoff) are shorter during busy periods. Crews must complete cleaning, setup, and boarding within a tight window, raising the risk of mistakes and burnout. On short-haul flights, completing the full in-flight service in time is a major challenge, especially compared to the more manageable pace of long-haul flights.
3. Passenger Behavior & Complaints
Naturally, with more passengers come more complaints. Cabin crews face a barrage of issues:
“Why haven’t I received my meal yet?”
“The passenger next to me is bothering me!”
“Can’t you turn on the air vents?”
The more time spent managing complaints, the less time crews have to perform their core duties, which leads to frustration and fatigue.
4. Inadequate Rest and Long Shifts
Staff shortages and packed flight schedules leave little time for proper rest. Airline planning departments must handle this delicately. Crew morale often hinges on fair scheduling based on equality. When exceptions are made for certain individuals, it’s quickly noticed and mentally taxing for others. This fosters burnout and low team morale.
5. Adjustment Challenges with New or Temporary Crew Members
Due to increased demand, airlines hire new staff or temporarily assign crews from other bases. While training programs may be strong, true learning happens during live flights. Experienced pursers and senior cabin crew support newcomers during flights — essentially training them in real-time. But doing this during high season is especially tough. Communication issues and adjustment challenges can emerge, affecting team harmony.