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Why are so many flights being cancelled? | Why are so many flights being cancelled? |
(8 days later) | |
Flight cancellations and airport delays are expected to continue over the next few months, affecting summer holiday plans. | |
Airlines have been told to cancel the flights they won't be able to deliver now, to avoid a return to the chaos seen in May and June. | |
One of the main issues is staff shortages, although the government and industry disagree about who is to blame for the problem. | One of the main issues is staff shortages, although the government and industry disagree about who is to blame for the problem. |
How bad are the staff shortages? | How bad are the staff shortages? |
Covid restrictions in the UK and across the globe 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 here, said airlines have cut about 30,000 jobs since the start of the pandemic, having employed 74,000 people in 2019. | |
Thousands of jobs have also been cut from airports and aviation support activities, which used to employ another 66,000 people. | |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
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 there were a record 1,295,000 job vacancies in the UK between February and April 2022. |
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. | 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. |
What's happening about vetting? | What's happening about vetting? |
Airport staff need security clearance from both the Civil Aviation Authority and the government to be able to do their jobs. | 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 process has been taking considerably longer than usual. | |
Swissport's UK boss, Jude Winstanley, said the company has hired 3,000 people since January, but many of them still don't have full security clearance, which limits the duties they can carry out. | |
EasyJet has cancelled dozens of flights in recent weeks | |
However, 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." | "It is wrong to suggest otherwise, and we are prioritising vetting applications from the aviation industry." |
The government did change the rules at the end of April to allow new staff to receive training while waiting for their final clearance. | The government did change the rules at the end of April to allow new staff to receive training while waiting for their final clearance. |
Did anyone see these problems coming? | Did anyone see these problems coming? |
Demand for travel has grown sharply since final restrictions for passengers entering the UK were lifted on 18 March. | Demand for travel has grown sharply since final restrictions for passengers entering the UK were lifted on 18 March. |
The TUC has accused the government of failing to properly prepare the airline industry for the end of lockdown. | The TUC has accused the government of failing to properly prepare the airline industry for the end of lockdown. |
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps accused airlines and operators of "seriously [overselling] flights and holidays". | Transport Secretary Grant Shapps accused airlines and operators of "seriously [overselling] flights and holidays". |
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. | 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. |
He said they have no choice but to try to operate at these levels, despite the staffing pressures. | He said they have no choice but to try to operate at these levels, despite the staffing pressures. |
Gemma Antrobus from the Association of Independent Tour Operators blamed a lack of sector-specific support since the start of the pandemic: | |
"Getting back to those levels of staffing, of training, is not as quick and as simple as just a flick of a light switch." | "Getting back to those levels of staffing, of training, is not as quick and as simple as just a flick of a light switch." |
Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said ministers and industry must also address "chronic low pay" in the sector. | |
The government said it had given £8bn of support to the industry during the pandemic. | The government said it had given £8bn of support to the industry during the pandemic. |
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. | 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. |
When will things improve? | |
According to the aviation regulator, up to 4% of UK flights were cancelled during half term and the Platinum Jubilee weekend - compared to the usual rate of 1%. | |
Airlines and unions have told MPs on the Commons Business Committee that the problems are likely to continue this summer. | |
Advantage Travel Partnership - a network of travel agents - said 30% of its members are already fielding calls from holidaymakers concerned about future bookings. | |
In a joint letter, the government and the regulator have now warned airlines to ensure their summer timetables are "deliverable". | |
If they are not, it says flights should be cancelled as soon as possible, to avoid large-scale last-minute cancellations. | |
Firms were also told to make sure customers were kept informed about their rights during any disruption. | |
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled? | |
Are other countries having similar issues? | Are other countries having similar issues? |
Disruption is not limited to the UK. | 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 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 | 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. | 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". | He said it was "about time the industry took some more responsibility for sorting its own challenges out". |
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