Fewer than half of passengers planning to travel this year believe the UK’s airports and airlines are ready for the summer getaway, a new CAA survey has revealed.
Just 45% of the 1,000 respondents to the CAA poll said they thought the industry was prepared for the summer, with 40% reporting having been affected by some form of disruption in the past year.
The most commonly reported forms of disruption were delays (31%) followed by cancellations (13%), strikes (9%) and damaged or lost luggage (7%). Nearly half (45%) said such disruption had not affected their travel plans for the summer.
CAA chief executive Rob Bishton said the authority was engaging with airports and airlines to assess their preparation for peak periods, and insisted that despite the survey results, "their efforts are resonating with consumers" as passenger numbers inch towards pre-pandemic levels.
Bishton, who recently visited Stansted airport to find out more about its summer preparation, said the industry was "increasing resilience in the face of the resurgence of travel".
Elsewhere, the survey revealed nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents had knowledge of at least some of their flight delay and cancellation rights, although fewer than one in five (18%) said they knew exactly what their rights are. Nearly half (46%) said they had "some knowledge" of their rights.
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