EasyJet reduces more flights during the summer, following government orders designed to prevent further disruptions to airports.
The Department of Transportation and the Civil Aviation Authority told airlines last week to review their schedules and make sure flights could be delivered, after staff shortages after the blockade caused airlines and airports could not keep up with the increase in travel as Covid restrictions were lifted.
EasyJet announced on Monday that in response to post-flight limits at two of its largest airports, London Gatwick and Amsterdam, it was “proactively consolidating” a number of flights to give customers time to review their travel and offer opportunity to book again.
Flights from other airports will also be affected.
EasyJet said it hoped most customers could book alternative flights again, many of which would be on the same day they were initially scheduled to travel.
“The current challenging operating environment has continued to have an impact, unfortunately, which has led to cancellations,” said easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren.
“Along with the airport limits, we are taking preventative action to increase resilience during the summer balance, including a number of additional flight consolidations at the affected airports, notifying customers in advance and hopefully the vast majority will book back in alternative flights within 24 hours.
“We believe this is the right action we need to take so that we can deliver to all of our customers during the peak summer period in this challenging environment.”
The cancellations will make easyJet run at about 87 percent of its pre-pandemic flight capacity from June 30 and about 90 percent of that capacity from July to September, the company said.
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Last month, the airline said it planned to operate 90% of its flight capacity before the pandemic this quarter and 97% from July to September.
This is despite the increase in demand, as the number of travelers in April and May of this year has increased to seven times the level of 2021.
Shares of EasyJet fell 3.5% Monday morning.