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| Will my summer holiday flights be cancelled? | Will my summer holiday flights be cancelled? |
| (about 1 hour 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, affecting summer holiday plans for many. |
| Airlines had already been struggling with staff shortages, and now face further disruption after aviation workers across Europe voted to strike. | Airlines had already been struggling with staff shortages, and now face further disruption after aviation workers across Europe voted to strike. |
| Some operators have begun cancelling flights, to try to prevent a repeat of the chaos seen at airports in recent months. | Some operators have begun cancelling flights, to try to prevent a repeat of the chaos seen at airports in recent months. |
| What are the strikes about? | What are the strikes about? |
| Strikes are expected from security staff, baggage handlers and airline cabin crew in a number of European countries. | Strikes are expected from security staff, baggage handlers and airline cabin crew in a number of European countries. |
| Ryanair staff are striking across Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain over poor working conditions and low pay. | Ryanair staff are striking across Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain over poor working conditions and low pay. |
| Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary dismissed union claims as "complete rubbish". | Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary dismissed union claims as "complete rubbish". |
| But in a statement, the company said "negotiations are going well, and we do not expect widespread disruption this summer". | But in a statement, the company said "negotiations are going well, and we do not expect widespread disruption this summer". |
| Easyjet workers in Spain argue their working conditions are worse than those of their European colleagues. | Easyjet workers in Spain argue their working conditions are worse than those of their European colleagues. |
| The company told the BBC it was "extremely disappointed with this action", as it has made "considerable progress towards a new collective labour agreement". | The company told the BBC it was "extremely disappointed with this action", as it has made "considerable progress towards a new collective labour agreement". |
| Which routes will be affected? | Which routes will be affected? |
| UK | UK |
| Hundreds of GMB trade union members working at Heathrow will vote at midday on Thursday to decide whether to walk out this summer. | Hundreds of GMB trade union members working at Heathrow will vote at midday on Thursday to decide whether to walk out this summer. |
| Those balloting are British Airways (BA) check-in and ground staff who complain that a 10% pay cut imposed during the pandemic remains - while thatsother BA workers have been given a 10% bonus. | |
| 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". | |
| Spain | Spain |
| Ryanair staff are expected to strike from June 24 to 26 June, and 30 June to 2 July. | 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 | 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. | 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 | Belgium |
| Ryanair staff plan to strike from June 24 to 26, affecting flights to/from Charleroi and Brussels. | 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. | 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? |
| 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 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 airlines 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 sectors. |
| 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 the clearance workers 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 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. |
| 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 weren't these problems 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 have 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 euro (£12.9bn) to its aviation sector in 2020 to offset the impact of Covid. | In comparison, the French government gave 15bn euro (£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 euro (£1.03bn) loan from the European Commission in 2020. |
| When will things improve? | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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". | 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. | Gatwick Airport has already announced it will reduce flight slots this summer. |