A person familiar with the call said that Pete Buttigieg urged airline CEOs to ensure they can fly their schedules reliably this summer after a rise in delays and cancelations.
The person said that the secretary asked airlines what they were doing to prevent disruptions during the July 4 weekend and the rest of the summer. The person said that Buttigieg pushed airlines to improve customer service so that passengers can rebook quickly.
Weather, staffing shortfalls and a surge in travel demand have caused airlines to struggle. Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines have already reduced their spring and summer travel schedules to give themselves more time to deal with disruptions.
More than 7,100 U.S. flights were delayed and nearly 1,600 were canceled as a result of multiple storms that snarled travel to and from some of the country's busiest airports.
The meeting came after the two senators wrote to Airlines for America asking for more information about the disruptions over Memorial Day weekend.
Nick Calio, CEO of Airlines for America, appreciated the chance to meet with Secretary Buttigieg to discuss their commitment to prioritize the safety and security of all travelers.
Air traffic control is sometimes blamed by airline executives.
Frequent storms, military exercises and a surge in demand are some of the reasons why the FAA called carriers to Florida for a meeting.
Staffing at a key air traffic facility in Florida will be increased by the FAA, which participated in Thursday's meeting.
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