Turkey’s Freebird says it has no plans to cut its summer schedule despite the "operational challenges" facing UK airports and airlines.
The carrier on Monday (27 June) pledged to operate its Gatwick-Antalya (four-times-weekly), Gatwick-Bodrum (twice-weekly) and Manchester-Antalya (twice-weekly) flights as scheduled.
Since launching scheduled flights to the UK in May, Freebird said it is yet to cancel any flights to Turkey.
It comes after the UK government last week said it would relax airport slot usage rules "to help airlines prevent last-minute flight cancellations during the summer peak".
The current 80:20 rule means airlines must use their slots for 80% of the time or risk losing them. However, owing to the widely-reported staffing issues throughout travel and aviation, many carriers have been forced to reactively or pre-emptively cancel scheduled flights they are no longer able to operate.
Freebird, though, said it had no plans to take the government up on the amnesty.
"Freebird hold all the necessary cleared slots at both airports and plan to continue to operate all planned flights from Gatwick and Manchester during the peak holiday season," said the carrier.
UK sales chief Carl Denton said: “At the very start of our planned scheduled operations from Gatwick and Manchester, we were aware of the challenges ahead and recruited additional dedicated staff who attend check-in and the departure gate to support our passengers and ensure they have the best possible service, under the current conditions.
“Furthermore, our flight plan operates outside of the key peak periods to ensure flight delays are kept to a minimum and the airport experience can be optimised."
Freebird debut UK operation is bookable via the trade.
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