Britain’s largest financial carrier cuts about 30-60 services a day amid staff shortages and today announced it would cut hundreds more this summer. Instead of running 97% of the summer program before Covid, easyJet now expects to run 90%. Johann Lundgren, the airline’s chief executive, told the Independent that some of the operational issues were due to post-Brexit recruitment difficulties: “The group of people is smaller, it’s just math. “We have to reject a huge number of EU nationals because of Brexit.” The government has categorically denied that the chaos observed at UK airports in recent months has to do with the country leaving the EU. Last week, Aviation Secretary Robert Kortz told members of the Business Selection Committee that “it is unlikely” that Brexit played a role in the chronic shortage of airline and airport staff. Heathrow, meanwhile, has asked airlines flying from Terminals 2 and 3 to cancel 10 percent of their flights today due to growing problems handling its luggage. It is estimated that 15,000 passengers on 90 flights will be affected.
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Stansted: Our queues “are no different from pre-pandemic”
London’s Stansted Airport said its queues were “no different from the pre-pandemic” after MP David Lamy wrote on Twitter criticizing his security queues and what he called “#BacklogBritain”. Labor MP Mr Lammy wrote on Twitter from the airport on Sunday: “Another morning, another horrible queue at airport security! This time at Stanstead [sic]. Well done @BorisJohnson. Top scores @pritipatel Welcome to #BacklogBritain ”. An airport spokesman defended the situation in the queue, saying that a queue at the security “does not mean that something went wrong or different from the days before the pandemic”. They added that customers who post photos on social media “do not necessarily follow when the queues are moving too fast”. “The security area is designed to control up to 5,000 passengers per hour, so that there are always other passengers in the area,” the spokesman said. Lucy Thackray20 June 2022 16:52 1655738624
“If you do not have enough pilots, stop selling all flights”: A mom in the US criticizes the airlines
After thousands of cancellations across the US last weekend, a mother hit her airline, Delta, saying her child had to sleep on an airport floor because of the upset. “@Delta If you do not have enough pilots, stop selling all flights,” wrote Nikki Weber. “I would rather pay more and arrive on time so that my children do not sleep on the disgusting floor of the airport in the middle of the night waiting for your pilots to arrive.” Twitter user Caoimhe, meanwhile, complained that her airline had refunded her for a canceled flight, but deducted $ 30 from the refund due to “cancellation fees”. Lucy Thackray20 June 2022 16:23 1655736449
Check three hours in advance for flights to the UK, says Brussels Airport
Brussels Airport is expected to reopen for departures flights on Tuesday, but warns passengers in the UK to arrive three hours earlier. A strike by security personnel working for the G4S took place in the Belgian center. The airport wrote on Twitter: “We remind you that due to the national demonstration on Monday, there are no departing passenger flights. For Tuesday and Wednesday, we expect a large number of passengers after booking reservations originally scheduled for Monday. “For departures, please arrive at the airport on time: 2 hours earlier for Schengen flights and 3 hours earlier for non-Schengen flights. Check the status of your flight and prepare your hand luggage to limit check times. “For incoming flights, check the flight status on our website, as flight times may be affected.” Brussels Airport also explained its decision to close on Monday, saying: “This case of force majeure makes it impossible to guarantee the safety of passengers and staff. “This decision is necessary to avoid chaotic situations.” Simon Calder20 June 2022 15:47 1655732936
How can you tell if your flight has been canceled?
It’s official: the chaos of last-minute flight cancellations seen in recent months has reached such a fever that the Department of Transportation (DfT) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have intervened, warning airlines to cut summer flights now for to avoid misery later. Here are numerous stories of passengers arriving at the airport – or even boarding the plane – only to be told that their flight had been canceled, ruining thousands of holiday travel plans. Gatwick, meanwhile, said it had set a maximum daily number of operations in July and August from a maximum of 900 departures and arrivals to 825 and 850 respectively. EasyJet passengers will carry the heaviest weight of canceled flights, with British Airways, Wizz Air, Tui, Norwegian and Ryanair also expected to take off departures. But how do you know if your flight has been canceled and what your rights are if it does not go ahead? Read our guide: Helen Coffey20 June 2022 14:48 1655728950
What did Heathrow Airport say about the cancellations?
Heathrow Airport has asked airlines to cancel 10 percent of their flights today. Management said the cuts were due to growing problems with baggage handling services. A Heathrow spokesman said: “We unreservedly apologize for the inconvenience to passengers this weekend. “The technical issues affecting our luggage systems led to the decision to ask the airlines operating in terminals 2 and 3 to consolidate their routes on Monday, June 20. “This will allow us to minimize the ongoing impact and we ask all passengers to contact their airlines for the latest information.” Lucy Thackray20 June 2022 13:42 1655727691
About 1,000 flights to the US were canceled on Sunday
The United States has not been excluded from the current travel chaos – on Sunday, about 1,000 flights were canceled, with Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport being the hardest hit airport. Several U.S. airlines have blamed staff shortages, illness and absences, and bad weather for the shutdown. After Delta canceled about 700 flights over the weekend, an airline spokesman cited a number of factors for the airline’s cancellations. “Many factors continue to affect our activities, including air traffic control challenges, weather and unscheduled absences from certain working groups,” they said. Other airports affected were Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, LaGuardia in New York and Newark Liberty. and Reagan Washington International of Washington DC. Lucy Thackray20 June 2022 13:21 1655726629
Passengers miss Amsterdam Schiphol flights in four hour queues
Several passengers at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport have used social media to defuse the long queues – with some saying they missed their flight. Jessica Blank wrote: “It arrived 4 hours earlier, according to the airport instructions, just to wait on the safety line for 4+ hours walking about 1.5 miles and we are still missing our flight. And all I got were these two stroopwafel… » Chrissy Sorenson added: “I’ve been queuing for 2 hours now and it looks like I’ve been in the queue for about the same. 4 hours is not enough time unless you classify the sambo mineral system. It is a joke.” Elisabeth Bik, meanwhile, wrote: “It took us more than three hours to check our luggage and go through @schiphol security. There is no time for coffee, boarding our flight to San Francisco has just begun. I’m glad I did it! “ Hafid Tilburg added: “Where did you go wrong with Amsterdam Airport @Schiphol? 2 hours queue for security check. “At least to give priority to families with young children and the elderly.” Lucy Thackray20 June 2022 13:03 1655725100
British airlines borrow EU planes to circumvent Brexit rules
Many UK airlines are borrowing European aircraft as a window to overcome Brexit-induced recruitment issues. Air carriers, including British Airways, easyJet and Tui, have adopted the “wet lease” policy of European airlines to circumvent post-Brexit rules on staff visas. Following the move to Brexit, UK airlines require EU staff working on aircraft registered in the UK to have a British visa. However, renting an EU-registered aircraft means that it can be staffed by an EU-based crew. Although it has its own aircraft in stock, British Airways has leased a handful of aircraft from its common code partners Iberia (based in Spain) and Finnair (Finland). Lucy Thackray20 June 2022 12:38 1655722820
EasyJet reduces the summer program by 7%
Britain’s largest financial airline has confirmed it will cancel hundreds of flights this summer as it struggles with its promised schedule. Instead of running 97% of the summer program before Covid, easyJet now expects to run 90%. After a weekend in which dozens of flights were shut down in a short period of time, the airline said: “Demand for travel returned with passengers in April and May seven times in the same months last year. “Given the unprecedented growth, the aviation industry across Europe is facing operational problems with deeper causes similar to the Covid supply chain issues seen in many other parts of the economy. “Challenges include air traffic delays and staff shortages at ground services and airports, resulting in increased aircraft switching times and delayed departures that have a negative effect on flight cancellations.” Simon Calder20 June 2022 12:00 1655720109
Brussels Airport cancels all departing flights
No passenger flights take off from Brussels airport all day on Monday due to a strike by security personnel. In a statement, the Belgian node said: “Brussels airport is closed for all departures due to a security strike. “There are no departure flights on Monday, June 20. “Because of…
