A pilot says they cleaned planes and loaded bags to avoid flight delays amid staffing issues

• A UK pilot said they were cleaning planes and loading bags to avoid flight delays, per iNews.
• They said understaffing meant pilots had to "muck in" to make sure flights left on time.

A pilot says they have been loading luggage and cleaning planes as airlines struggle with staffing issues this summer.

The unnamed pilot, who said they were based in a Manchester airport in the UK, told iNews that staffing issues had started to develop around the New Years' holiday before escalating in the spring.

They said that understaffing meant pilots had to "muck in" to make sure flights left on time.

"Cleaning the aircraft or putting in a couple of extra bags in, that might take five minutes and could be the difference between getting the aircraft into the air or being delayed that night," they told iNews.

"Some airlines' cabin crew clean the aircraft, some don't. For those that don't, you often see the cabin crew and pilots getting involved in cleaning the aircraft to try and speed things up," they added.

The pilot told the outlet that he had loaded passengers' bags onto planes twice this year.

They said that having to take on the extra jobs was an "extreme scenario" and took time away from pilots' responsibilities during preparation for takeoff.

"There are two of us there, but really both of us should be on the flight deck looking at the flight, not loading aircraft," they said.

A Manchester airport spokesperson referred Insider to airlines for comment, adding that pilots and ground handlers were not its staff and it could not comment on their operations.

The entire aviation industry has been struggling to cope with travel demand over the last few months. A shortage of pilots, baggage handlers, and cabin crew have led to hundreds of flight delays and cancellations.

Although the pilot told iNews he thought the situation was improving, they added that "as soon as one or two people start ringing in sick that whole kind of supply chain starts falling apart."

Flight attendants have also been complaining of staff shortages across the sector, which have left them feeling exhausted and overworked. Flight crew members told CNN staff are being "maxed out" and "worked to the bone" amid a chaotic summer of travel.