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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, affecting summer holiday plans for many. Flight cancellations and airport delays are expected to continue this summer, affecting many people's holiday plans.
Airlines had already been struggling with staff shortages, and now face further disruption after aviation workers at Heathrow and across Europe voted to strike. British Airways and EasyJet have removed about 40,000 flights from their schedules.
Some operators have begun cancelling flights, to try to prevent a repeat of the chaos seen at airports in recent months. Airlines had already been struggling because of widespread staff shortages and further disruption is possible after some workers voted for industrial action.
What are the strikes about? Which flights have already been cancelled?
Strikes are expected from security staff, baggage handlers and airline cabin crew in the UK and a number of European countries. British Airways is cutting nearly 30,000 flights from its April-to-October schedule in response to staffing problems.
Ryanair staff are striking across Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain over poor working conditions and low pay. About a million existing bookings on domestic and European routes from London Heathrow, Gatwick and City airports have been cancelled.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary dismissed union claims as "complete rubbish". Long-haul flights are unaffected.
But in a statement, the company said "negotiations are going well, and we do not expect widespread disruption this summer". EasyJet has pulled 10,000 flights between July and September.
Easyjet workers in Spain argue their working conditions are worse than those of their European colleagues. 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.
The company told the BBC it was "extremely disappointed with this action", as it has made "considerable progress towards a new collective labour agreement". Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said this would "help airlines provide certainty to passengers and ensure the next few months are as smooth as possible".
Hundreds of GMB and Unite trade union members working at Heathrow have voted to go on strike over the summer holidays. But Ryanair has criticised the plan, insisting it will run its full flight schedule.
Those walking out are 700 British Airways (BA) check-in and ground staff who complain that a 10% pay cut imposed during the pandemic remains - while other BA workers have been given a 10% bonus. Gatwick Airport had already said it would reduce flight slots this summer.
But BA dismissed their claims, saying that "after a deeply difficult two years... these colleagues were offered a 10% payment for this year which was rejected".
Which routes will be affected?
UK
The BBC understands that if the Heathrow strikes go ahead, BA - which operates from terminals three and five at the airport - has contingency plans in place, which could include managers dealing with check-ins.
However, customers could still potentially face disruption and possibly some cancellations, in particular on routes with several daily flights.
Spain
Ryanair staff are expected to strike from June 24 to 26 June, and 30 June to 2 July.
The airline flies to ten locations in Spain, but it's not clear which routes could be affected.
EasyJet cabin crew in Spain working from Palma, Barcelona and Malaga will strike 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 could experience some disruption, but that "at this stage" it planned to operate its full schedule.
Easyjet has already cancelled many flights this year because of staff shortages
Portugal and Italy
Ryanair staff will walk out from June 24 to 26 in Portugal, and Italian staff have timed their strike for 25 June to coincide.
Belgium
Ryanair staff plan to strike from June 24 to 26, affecting flights to/from Charleroi and Brussels.
This follows the complete walkout of screening staff at Brussels airport on Monday which led to the cancellation of all 232 departing flights.
France
Ryanair staff based at Toulouse, Marseille and Paris Beauvais airports are planning to strike from June 25 to 26.
Workers at Paris's Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports will strike on 2 July - affecting all flights in and out of both locations.
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 sector. Covid restrictions in the UK and around the world were hugely challenging for the travel sector.
Airlines UK, the industry body, said airlines have cut about 30,000 jobs since the start of the pandemic, having employed 74,000 people in 2019. 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 sectors. 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 the clearance workers need to operate airside. 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 the 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. 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 weren't these problems anticipated? 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 have accused the government and airlines of failing to properly prepare for the end of lockdown. 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 termUK 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 euro (£12.9bn) to its aviation sector in 2020 to offset the impact of Covid. 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 euro (£1.03bn) loan from the European Commission in 2020. Some airlines have also had to be bailed out: TAP Portugal received a €1.2bn (£1.03bn) loan from the European Commission in 2020.
When will things improve?
After the severe problems seen over May half term, the government and the regulator warned airlines to ensure their summer timetables were "deliverable".
If not, they say flights should be pulled as soon as possible, to avoid large-scale, last-minute cancellations.
According to Conservative MP Huw Merriman, chairman of the Transport Select Committee, one of the big issues is that airlines have to use 70% of their airport slots or risk losing them.
In response, the government has announced an amnesty scheme which will let airlines temporarily hand back slots they will struggle to fill this summer, without having to surrender them permanently.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said this would "help airlines provide certainty to passengers and ensure the next few months are as smooth as possible".
Airline UK boss Tim Alderslade described the move as "a welcome step that will help build greater resilience into operations this summer".
Gatwick Airport has already announced it will reduce flight slots this summer.
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