Americans may face another decade of persistent flight cancelations and delays amid a desperate staffing crisis. 

The industry is currently short about 32,000 commercial pilots, mechanics and air traffic controllers, according to analysis by CBS News.

Airlines have struggled to keep up with a post-COVID travel surge, which has caused major travel disruptions over the past two years. 

And experts say the trend is likely to continue, as it takes years to train airline professionals — and because pilots must retire by law at the age of 65 and air traffic controllers at 56.

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says his office is now investigating airlines for 'unrealistic scheduling,' or listing more flights than carriers can safely accommodate. 

Airlines had already been struggling to retain employees for years before the COVID pandemic hit, but the problem became significantly worse in the aftermath, when airlines drastically cut back their routes and laid off thousands of workers.

Many of those who remained decided to seize the opportunity to take an early retirement or leave the industry altogether.

Then when worldwide travel resumed as normal in 2022 and 2023, the airlines found themselves without enough employees to meet the pent-up demand.

The industry is now short about 17,000 pilots, and Wichita State University emeritus professor Dean Headley — who publishes the annual Airline Quality Ratings — said airlines can only train about 1,500 to 1,800 pilots each year.