This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62070451
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| British Airways to cancel 10,300 more flights | British Airways to cancel 10,300 more flights |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| British Airways is to cut 10,300 more short-haul flights due to feature in its schedule between August and the end of October. | British Airways is to cut 10,300 more short-haul flights due to feature in its schedule between August and the end of October. |
| This latest announcement means nearly 30,000 flights will have been removed from BA's schedule between April and October this year. | This latest announcement means nearly 30,000 flights will have been removed from BA's schedule between April and October this year. |
| The cancellations affect London Heathrow, Gatwick and City airports. | The cancellations affect London Heathrow, Gatwick and City airports. |
| The industry has struggled with staff shortages as demand for air travel has rebounded after Covid restrictions. | The industry has struggled with staff shortages as demand for air travel has rebounded after Covid restrictions. |
| "The whole aviation industry continues to face into significant challenges and we're completely focused on building resilience into our operation to give customers the certainty they deserve," BA said. | "The whole aviation industry continues to face into significant challenges and we're completely focused on building resilience into our operation to give customers the certainty they deserve," BA said. |
| The latest cancellations come ahead of Friday's deadline, announced last month by the Department for Transport (DfT), for an amnesty to give airlines a short window to hand back, without facing the usual penalty, any airport slots in the summer season they are not confident they will be able to operate. | The latest cancellations come ahead of Friday's deadline, announced last month by the Department for Transport (DfT), for an amnesty to give airlines a short window to hand back, without facing the usual penalty, any airport slots in the summer season they are not confident they will be able to operate. |
| The intention is to reduce the chances of disruption and late-notice cancellations over the summer by making schedules more resilient. | The intention is to reduce the chances of disruption and late-notice cancellations over the summer by making schedules more resilient. |
| Airport slots provide airlines with the authorisation to take off or land at a specified time on a specified day. In usual circumstances, the carriers would risk losing the slots - and taking a hit to their business - if they cancel flights. | Airport slots provide airlines with the authorisation to take off or land at a specified time on a specified day. In usual circumstances, the carriers would risk losing the slots - and taking a hit to their business - if they cancel flights. |
| British Airways cancels 1,500 more flights | British Airways cancels 1,500 more flights |
| Will my summer holiday flights be cancelled? | Will my summer holiday flights be cancelled? |
| BA Heathrow staff back summer strikes over pay | BA Heathrow staff back summer strikes over pay |
| BA said this new flexibility meant it could "further reduce our schedule and consolidate some of our quieter services so that we can protect as many of our holiday flights as possible". | BA said this new flexibility meant it could "further reduce our schedule and consolidate some of our quieter services so that we can protect as many of our holiday flights as possible". |
| "While most of our flights are unaffected and the majority of customers will get away as planned, we don't underestimate the impact this will have and we're doing everything we can to get their travel plans back on track," the airline said. | "While most of our flights are unaffected and the majority of customers will get away as planned, we don't underestimate the impact this will have and we're doing everything we can to get their travel plans back on track," the airline said. |
| Long haul flights are unaffected by Wednesday's announcement. | Long haul flights are unaffected by Wednesday's announcement. |
| BA said it was contacting customers with the offer of a full refund or rebooking with BA or another airline. | |
| But the news of cancellations triggered an influx of calls to the company. | |
| "We're experiencing high call volumes due to current disruption. We'll contact you if your flight has been cancelled," the airline tweeted. | |
| Airport slot amnesty | |
| BA isn't the only airline to be forced to cancel flights over the busy summer period amid industry-wide disruption. | |
| It is understood that EasyJet has been forced to cancel some 10,000 flights between July and September, in a bid to minimise disruption caused by a shortage of staff. | |
| The entire aviation sector has struggled to bounce back from the pandemic, during which it cut thousands of jobs as the industry ground to a halt. | |
| Now that travel has resumed, airlines are seeking to put on almost as many flights as they did before Covid, while finding it difficult to rehire workers. | |
| Airlines were expected to announce a wave of cancellations this week ahead of Friday's airport slot amnesty. | |
| Ministers told carriers to review their plans after travel chaos in May, blamed on a shortage of airline and airport staff. | |
| BA said the move would help provide "certainty" to customers. | |
| FROM ISHTAR TO CATS: Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode talk big box office flops | FROM ISHTAR TO CATS: Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode talk big box office flops |
| 'MY NAME'S BRIAN AND I'M A DEPRESSIVE': Queen guitarist Brian May on living with depression | 'MY NAME'S BRIAN AND I'M A DEPRESSIVE': Queen guitarist Brian May on living with depression |