Brits face summer of travel chaos and holiday heartache amid huge airline staff shortages
dailystar.co.ukBritish Airways has axed over 1,000 plane journeys across the world until September.In an email to customers, the airline apologised and said: “We’ll do everything we can to get you where you need to be.”The airline’s boss Sean Doyle had originally told staff in an internal message that flights would be cancelled until the end of May.
But the problem appears to be worsening with fears more airlines will follow suit after EasyJet also cancelled hundreds of Easter flights.Martin Chalk, general secretary of pilot union BALPA, blamed the “chaos” at airports on airlines which are “laden with debt” and not hiring enough staff.Lengthy security checks on new recruits are also hindering the industry’s post-pandemic recovery, industry experts warn.
Paul Charles, of travel consultancy The PC Agency said: “It’s a nightmare situation for airlines and airports.”The Department for Transport said counter-terror checks for aviation staff “is important for the protection of the travelling public”.
EasyJet said: “We are planning to operate our normal summer schedule which is on average around 1,700 flights a day.”A BA spokesman said the airline has removed Hong Kong from its schedules due to the ongoing entry restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
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