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Will my summer holiday flights be cancelled? | Will my summer holiday flights be cancelled? |
(14 days later) | |
Flight cancellations and airport delays are expected to continue this summer, affecting many people's holiday plans. | |
British Airways and EasyJet have removed about 40,000 flights from their schedules. | |
Airlines had already been struggling because of widespread staff shortages and further disruption is possible after some workers voted for industrial action. | |
Which flights have already been cancelled? | |
British Airways is cutting nearly 30,000 flights from its April-to-October schedule in response to staffing problems. | |
About a million existing bookings on domestic and European routes from London Heathrow, Gatwick and City airports have been cancelled. | |
Long-haul flights are unaffected. | |
EasyJet has pulled 10,000 flights between July and September. | |
Under an amnesty announced last month by the Department for Transport (DfT), airlines have until Friday to temporarily hand back without penalty any summer airport slots they will struggle to operate. | |
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said this would "help airlines provide certainty to passengers and ensure the next few months are as smooth as possible". | |
But Ryanair has criticised the plan, insisting it will run its full flight schedule. | |
Gatwick Airport had already said it would reduce flight slots this summer. | |
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled? | What are my rights if my flight is cancelled? |
Passengers have a number of rights under UK law if they are: | |
flying from a UK airport | |
arriving at a UK airport on an EU or UK airline | |
arriving at an EU airport on a UK airline | |
Airlines must offer the choice of a refund or alternative flight, regardless of how far in advance the cancellation was made. | |
Return tickets must be fully refunded if either leg is cancelled. | |
And passengers have a right to be booked on another airline - or other suitable mode if transport - if it is going to their destination significantly sooner | |
BA said it was contacting affected customers. | |
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled? | |
British Airways: Help with delays, cancellations and refunds | |
Easyjet: Delays and cancellations | |
Which airlines are facing strikes? | |
Security staff, baggage handlers and airline cabin crew are taking industrial action in a number of European countries. | |
Ryanair staff in Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain have been striking over working conditions and pay. | |
EasyJet cabin crew in Spain working from Palma, Barcelona and Malaga are striking for nine days in July, over three separate 72-hour periods: 1 to 3 July, 15 to 17 July, and 29 to 31 July. | |
The company said customers might experience some disruption, but that "at this stage" it planned to operate its full schedule. | |
Unions representing staff at Heathrow Airport, however, are close to a deal with British Airways that would avoid planned strikes this summer. | |
A "good offer" was now on the table, union sources told BBC News. | |
In June, 700 workers - mostly check-in staff - voted to strike, after BA failed to reverse a 10% pay cut imposed during the peak of the pandemic. | |
Why are staff shortages so high? | Why are staff shortages so high? |
Covid restrictions in the UK and around the world were hugely challenging for the travel sector. | |
Airlines UK, the industry body, said companies have cut about 30,000 jobs since the start of the pandemic, having employed 74,000 people in 2019. | |
Airports across Europe are also experiencing shortages, with operators in France reporting at least 4,000 vacancies. | Airports across Europe are also experiencing shortages, with operators in France reporting at least 4,000 vacancies. |
Many airport staff who were laid off after the start of the pandemic have since taken jobs in other fields. | |
Airport security staff shortages are a particular problem, as it can take months to get workers the clearance they need to operate airside. | |
Swissport's UK boss, Jude Winstanley, said his company had hired 3,000 people since January, but many of them still didn't have full security clearance, limiting the duties they could carry out. | |
The government changed the rules at the end of April to allow new staff to receive training while waiting for their final clearance. | The government changed the rules at the end of April to allow new staff to receive training while waiting for their final clearance. |
Why were these problems not anticipated? | |
Demand for travel has grown sharply since the final Covid travel restrictions were lifted. | Demand for travel has grown sharply since the final Covid travel restrictions were lifted. |
Unions accused the government and airlines of failing to properly prepare for the end of lockdown. | |
Gemma Antrobus from the Association of Independent Tour Operators said: "Getting back to those levels of staffing, of training, is not as quick and as simple as just a flick of a light switch." | Gemma Antrobus from the Association of Independent Tour Operators said: "Getting back to those levels of staffing, of training, is not as quick and as simple as just a flick of a light switch." |
UK airports saw severe disruption at Easter and May half term | UK airports saw severe disruption at Easter and May half term |
The government insists ministers have been working with the industry to avoid delays, and says it provided £8bn of support to the sector during the pandemic. | The government insists ministers have been working with the industry to avoid delays, and says it provided £8bn of support to the sector during the pandemic. |
In comparison, the French government gave €15bn (£12.9bn) to its aviation sector in 2020 to offset the impact of Covid. | |
Some airlines have also had to be bailed out: TAP Portugal received a €1.2bn (£1.03bn) loan from the European Commission in 2020. | |