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| Why are so many flights being cancelled? | Why are so many flights being cancelled? |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Flight cancellations and airport delays are expected to continue over the next few months, affecting summer holiday plans. | Flight cancellations and airport delays are expected to continue over the next few months, affecting summer holiday plans. |
| Airlines have been told by the government and regulator to cancel the flights they won't be able to deliver now, to avoid a return to the chaos seen in May and June. | |
| Gatwick Airport is cutting the number of flight slots during the peak summer months. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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 said that many 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 Conservative MP Huw Merriman, chairman of the Transport Select Committee, told the BBC that airlines have a requirement set by the government to use 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: | 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. | 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? | 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%. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | Firms were also told to make sure customers were kept informed about their rights during any disruption. |
| Gatwick will be reducing its number of daily flights to 825 in July and 850 in August, down from 900 in previous years. | |
| It said it had taken the decision to temporarily reduce flights following a review of its operations, to help passengers "experience a more reliable and better standard of service". | |
| What are my rights if my flight is cancelled? | 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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