United and American Airlines are replacing planes with buses on some routes in an attempt to tackle the pilot shortage

An ongoing pilot shortage has prompted US airlines to replace planes with buses on some routes.

The new scheme is being used by United and American Airlines.

Wage hikes and higher bonuses are being used to attract and retain talent in aviation, where labor shortages continue to pose problems.

United and American signed contracts with a Colorado-based bus-as-flight company to transport passengers and their luggage by coach on shorter, domestic routes.

One route offered by United will take passengers from Denver to smaller cities.

The bus service will begin on June 3. There will be ferried passengers between Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Insider requested comment from United and American outside normal working hours.

Delta Air Lines is dropping the requirement for a four-year college degree for prospective pilots in order to address the pilot shortage.

Breeze Airways is fighting the labor shortage by hiring pilots from Australia under the E3 visa program.

SkyWest Airlines doesn't have enough pilots to fly the routes, so United has cut 29 cities this summer.