Holidaymakers facing travel disruption as flights cancelled at UK airports – BBC News

Summary

Britain's Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has urged airlines to halt ticket sales for flights they cannot staff after a surge in cancellations left tourists stranded. British airports, struggling to manage increased demand, are facing a particularly tough week due to the school holidays and Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Many passengers have experienced long delays and flight cancellations, causing stress and frustration. The government blames airlines and airports for not being prepared despite financial support during the pandemic. As the summer travel season ramps up, concerns grow over further disruptions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Britain's Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, has urged airlines to stop selling tickets for flights they cannot staff due to a shortage of workers.
• 😀 A surge in flight cancellations has led to many tourists struggling to depart for their holidays, with airports across Europe overwhelmed by increased demand.
• 😀 British airports are facing particular challenges due to the combination of school holidays and extra days off for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
• 😀 Some airports are facing severe staff shortages, with one example being a co-pilot seen loading bags at an airport to compensate for lack of staff.
• 😀 During the pandemic, the aviation industry laid off thousands of workers, and now it is struggling to recruit enough staff to meet the current demand.
• 😀 Tourists' holidays have been ruined by the disruptions, with passengers like Vivian and her husband facing long queues and flight cancellations.
• 😀 Long delays and cancellations have led to emotional stress, with one passenger, Anthony, spending his birthday at an airport due to a cancelled flight.
• 😀 The UK government has accused airlines and airports of failing to prepare adequately, despite injecting £8 billion into the industry during the pandemic.
• 😀 Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has criticized airlines for overselling flights and holidays and has called for a meeting with aviation bosses.
• 😀 The holiday giant TUI has canceled 200 flights from Manchester Airport in June, impacting thousands of travelers to ensure stability and better service.
• 😀 Despite the challenges, airports like Heathrow and Gatwick are maintaining operations, with Heathrow noting long queues but still flowing smoothly.
• 😀 The upcoming Jubilee weekend will see 10,000 flights departing from British airports, and the aviation sector expects continued pressure throughout the summer.

Q & A

What action did Britain's Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, take regarding airlines and flight cancellations?

Grant Shapps instructed airlines to stop selling tickets for flights they cannot adequately staff after a series of cancellations left tourists struggling to travel.

Why are British airports facing a particularly difficult week?

British airports are experiencing challenges due to a combination of school holidays and two additional days off for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which have increased demand.

What does the passenger's comment about the co-pilot reveal about the staff situation at airports?

The passenger’s comment highlights the severe staff shortages at airports, where even co-pilots are being asked to help with tasks like loading luggage due to staffing issues.

How has the aviation industry been impacted by the pandemic in terms of staffing?

The aviation industry laid off thousands of employees during the pandemic, and now struggles to recruit enough workers to meet the increased demand for flights.

What specific incident occurred with Vivian and her husband John at Bristol airport?

Vivian and her husband John were supposed to fly to Menorca for a family gathering, but after hours of queuing, their flight was cancelled, ruining their holiday plans, including missing their son's 50th birthday.

What unfortunate situation did Anthony and his daughter Emily experience at Manchester airport?

Anthony and his daughter Emily spent two days at Manchester airport after their flight to Turkey was cancelled. They ended up spending Anthony's birthday in the airport, which he described as one of his worst birthdays ever.

What is the government's stance regarding the airline and airport situation?

The government has accused airlines and airports of being unprepared, despite having injected eight billion pounds into the industry during the pandemic to support its recovery.

What has Grant Shapps suggested regarding the sale of flights and holiday packages?

Grant Shapps has criticized airlines for overselling flights and holidays, leading to cancellations, and is demanding a meeting with aviation industry leaders to address the issue.

What actions has the holiday company TUI taken in response to flight disruptions?

TUI has cancelled 200 of its flights from Manchester airport in June, affecting thousands of passengers, in an effort to provide more stability and improve customer service.

How are the British airports preparing for the busy holiday period ahead?

While Heathrow and Gatwick airports have stated that they are operating normally despite queues, the industry anticipates increased flight volumes during the summer months, particularly over the Jubilee weekend with an expected 10,000 flights.