Airlines face mounting pressure over cancellations and delays
Tom ParryTui has apologised after announcing plans to axe multiple flights a day from Manchester until the end of June as airlines face mounting consumer and government pressure over airport delays and service cancellations.
Up to six Tui flights per day have reportedly been cut at the airport – said to impact up to 37,000 passengers over the coming month – due to “operational challenges”.
“We can reassure our customers that the remainder of our flying programme is expected to operate as planned,” a Tui spokesperson said, adding how affected customers would be contacted in departure date order and automatically receive a full refund.
“We’d like to apologise again for the inconvenience caused and we thank customers for their understanding and patience during this time,” Tui said.
The cancellations follow previous apologies from Tui and rival easyJet after dozens of flights were delayed or cancelled last weekend.
EasyJet announced its intentions to pre-emptively cancel "around 24" Gatwick flights a day until Monday (6 June), claiming it was necessary "to provide reliable services" over what is expected to be a busy extended bank holiday for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Thousands of passengers across the UK have reportedly had flights cancelled or faced airport delays when checking in and collecting baggage during the past week.
A Glasgow spokesperson told BBC News the airport was "busier than it has been for more than two years" and Edinburgh said some passengers had to wait outside the terminal building to check luggage. Meanwhile, Stansted is forecasting 80,000 passengers a day over the next week.
A government minster hit out at the travel sector on Tuesday (31 May) arguing the industry had “many months” to prepare for the half-term surge in passenger numbers and should have increased staffing levels to cope.
Arts minister Lord Parkinson told Sky News’ Kay Burley: “We have been, for many months, urging [the industry] to make sure they’ve got enough staff."
Aviation bodies have hit back, with Airlines UK reiterating how the sector was “still emerging from the worst crisis in the history of aviation”.
“Airlines were grounded for almost two years as a result of one of the most restrictive travel regimes in the world and, with this in mind, the sector has had only a matter of weeks to recover and prepare for one of the busiest summers we’ve seen in many years,” said chief executive Tim Alderslade.
“Despite this, and without the ability to know when restrictions would be completely removed or predict how much flying would be possible over the summer, the vast majority of the many tens of thousands of UK-departing flights a week will be operating as scheduled.
“The focus now should be on our customers, with airports, airlines and government working together in the best interests of Britons to ensure they get away over the summer.”
The Airport Operators Association (AOA) said it had anticipated such passenger demand at peak holiday times and had launched “big recruitment campaigns” before the start of the year.
“But until the restrictions were lifted, uncertainty about the future of travel made this difficult. Since then, there has been a very positive response, and airports are now seeing additional staff completing the required vetting and training, and being deployed,” the AOA said.
“As a result, while queues may be longer at certain times at some airports, most passengers are getting through airport security – and away on their holidays – smoothly.
“The focus now must be on continuing to improve the service to customers. Airports are working closely with airlines and ground-handling companies to facilitate check-in, baggage handling and on-time departures. We will work closely with them and with government to ensure we are ready for the summer getaway – the first proper summer holiday period since the start of the pandemic.”
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