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Why are flights being cancelled? Why are so many flights being cancelled?
(1 day later)
Flight cancellations and airport disruption continued over the Jubilee weekend, leaving potentially thousands of passengers stranded abroad. Flight cancellations and airport delays are expected to continue over the next few months, and could affect summer holiday plans.
Staff shortages has emerged as one of the main reasons, although disagreement remains between the government and industry over who is to blame for this. Thousands of passengers were left stranded abroad after more disruption over the Jubilee weekend.
Cancelled flights fuel summer holiday fears One of the main issues is staff shortages, although the government and industry disagree about who is to blame for the problem.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?
Staff shortages How bad are the staff shortages?
Covid restrictions were hugely challenging for the travel industry. Covid restrictions in the UK and across the globe were hugely challenging for the travel industry.
Airlines UK, the industry body for airlines registered in the UK, said airlines cut about 30,000 jobs during the pandemic, having employed 74,000 people in 2019. Airlines UK, the industry body for airlines registered here, said airlines have cut about 30,000 jobs since the start of the pandemic, having previously employed 74,000 people in 2019.
Thousands of jobs were also cut from airports and aviation support activities, which used to employ another 66,000 people.Thousands of jobs were also cut from airports and aviation support activities, which used to employ another 66,000 people.
In June 2020, for example, Swissport, which employed about 8,500 staff at UK airports including baggage handlers and security staff, announced it was cutting more than half of them. In June 2020, for example, Swissport, which had about 8,500 staff at UK airports - including baggage handlers and security personnel - announced it would halve its workforce.
The company has now hired 2,800 people since January, although 1,200 of them still do not have full security clearance. The company has hired 2,800 people since January, but 1,200 of them still don't have full security clearance, which limits the duties they can carry out.
While travel restrictions have been easing gradually, the last restrictions for passengers entering the UK were only lifted on 18 March. Unions have also said that many previous airport staff who were laid off after the start of the pandemic have since taken jobs in other sectors.
Meanwhile, unions have said that airport staff have been considering whether it is worth returning to airport jobs and are moving to other areas. The Office for National Statistics said that there were a record 1,295,000 job vacancies in the UK between February and April 2022.
The Office for National Statistics said that between February and April 2022 there were a record 1,295,000 job vacancies in the UK. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary also pointed out that Brexit has made it harder for the industry to bring in European workers to fill gaps.
Vetting What's happening about vetting?
It takes longer to replace airport staff than other workers because they need security clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority and the government. Airport staff need security clearance from both the Civil Aviation Authority and the government to be able to do their jobs.
There have been reports that the vetting is taking considerably longer than the 14 weeks it usually takes, but the Cabinet Office told BBC News: "There are absolutely no delays to security vetting of applicants. It is wrong to suggest otherwise and we are prioritising vetting applications from the aviation industry." There have been reports that the vetting process has been taking considerably longer than the usual 14 weeks.
In order to speed up the process, the government changed the rules at the end of April to allow new staff to receive training while waiting for their vetting, but clearly that will not solve the problems straight away. EasyJet has cancelled dozens of flights in the last week
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary pointed out that Brexit means the industry cannot just bring in young Europeans to alleviate staff shortages. However, the Cabinet Office insisted this was not true, telling BBC News: "There are absolutely no delays to security vetting of applicants.
Did anyone see it coming? "It is wrong to suggest otherwise, and we are prioritising vetting applications from the aviation industry."
The government said its ministers had met with industry leaders before half term to ensure that they were prepared. The government did change the rules at the end of April to allow new staff to receive training while waiting for their final clearance.
Now, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said airlines and operators had "seriously oversold flights and holidays". Did anyone see these problems coming?
Gemma Antrobus, chair of the Association of Independent Tour Operators, rejected the government's criticism, blaming a lack of sector-specific support during the pandemic and since. Demand for travel has grown sharply since final restrictions for passengers entering the UK were lifted on 18 March.
"Getting back to those levels of staffing, of training is not as quick and as simple as just a flick of a light switch," Antrobus said. The TUC has accused the government of failing to properly prepare the airline industry for the end of lockdown.
Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh called on ministers to address the backlog in security checks for new staff and work with industry to address "chronic low pay". The government said its ministers met with industry leaders before half-term to ensure that they were ready.
The government said it had given £8bn of support to the industry during the pandemic, including the furlough scheme, loan guarantees and the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme, which offered £4m grants to airports and companies providing them with services such as maintenance and cleaning. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps accused airlines and operators of "seriously [overselling] flights and holidays".
How long will it last? But the Conservative MP Huw Merriman, chairman of the Transport Select Committee, told the BBC that airlines have an obligation to fill 70% of their airport slots or risk losing them.
Industry leaders warned after disruption to flights in the Easter holidays that the situation would not improve for some time. He said they have no choice but to try to operate at these levels, despite the staffing pressures.
According to aviation data firm Cirium, 305 flights departing the UK were cancelled out of total of 10,662 scheduled flights over the Jubilee weekend. Gemma Antrobus, who chairs the Association of Independent Tour Operators, also rejected the government's criticism, blaming a lack of sector-specific support since the start of the pandemic.
This comes at a tricky time for some families who are trying to return to the UK in time for pupils to sit their GCSEs. "Getting back to those levels of staffing, of training, is not as quick and as simple as just a flick of a light switch."
Children and teachers stuck abroad as term starts Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said ministers and industry also have to address "chronic low pay" in the sector.
The industry now has less than two months to prepare for the summer holiday peak. That will give some time to recruit and train extra staff, but Advantage Travel Partnership - a network of travel agents - said 30% are fielding calls from holidaymakers concerned about their future bookings. The government said it had given £8bn of support to the industry during the pandemic.
One advantage of the summer break is that the travel peak is not limited to a single week, as happens at half term. This included help under the furlough scheme, loan guarantees and the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme, which offered £4m grants to airports and companies providing them with services such as maintenance and cleaning.
But the current problems are not isolated to the UK. How long will the problems last?
There have been long queues at other European airports due to staff shortages in recent weeks including Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport and Dublin Airport. Over the weekend Dublin they reported that the issues had now been resolved. Airlines warned after disruption at Easter that the situation wasn't likely to improve for some time.
According to aviation data firm Cirium, 305 of the 10,662 scheduled flights due to take place over the Jubilee weekend were cancelled.
This was particularly challenging for some families who were trying to return to the UK in time for pupils to sit their GCSEs.
The industry now has less than two months to prepare for the crucial summer holiday period.
Companies will be able to recruit and train extra staff in this time, but Advantage Travel Partnership - a network of travel agents - said 30% of its members are already fielding calls from holidaymakers concerned about future bookings.
One advantage of the summer break is that the travel peak is not limited to a single week, as happens at half-term, so delays may not be as bad.
Cancelled flights fuel summer holiday fears
Are other countries having similar issues?
Disruption is not limited to the UK.
There have also been problems at other European airports because of staff shortages in recent weeks, including Amsterdam's Schiphol and also Dublin.
There were large queues at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on 4 June after KLM temporarily paused flights from other European destinations
However, Health Secretary Sajid Javid questioned why other major European countries like Germany and Italy hadn't seen the same scale of problems as the UK.
He said it was "about time the industry took some more responsibility for sorting its own challenges out".
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