Frustrated travelers are facing more flight cancellations over the next few weeks as airlines rush to rework their schedules.
The disturbance comes in response to last month’s announcement that an amnesty will allow airlines to cancel flights while retaining take-off and landing strips next year.
Airlines buy slots to operate their schedules, but may lose them to rivals if they fail to meet their obligations to the airport and passengers not to fly.
It is hoped that the ability to adjust schedules more freely will allow airlines to run only flights that they can fully customize, ending with reports of passengers arriving at the airport to find their flights canceled at the airport. ‘last moment.
According to a report, British Airways flights from Heathrow are likely to have the most cancellations.
The Daily Telegraph said the airline planned to carry 1.8 million passengers on more than 9,000 flights from Heathrow in July alone.
A British Airways spokesman told the PA news agency that the slot amnesty and the consequent cancellations “will help us provide the security our customers deserve, facilitating the consolidation of some of our daily flights quieter to multifrequency destinations well in advance “.
They said the airline “welcomes these new measures”, adding: “The relief of the airlines allows airlines to temporarily reduce their schedules, but still keep their airlines for next year to maintain networks and provide consumers with certainty and consistency.
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“Slot allocation according to the (World Airport Slots Guide system) means that airlines can offer consistent services and efficient connections that consumers are looking for and protect jobs and create growth in the UK.”
The shortage of staff in ground services, airports and flight crews has presented major challenges as the aviation sector struggles to move into the high season after two years of turbulence related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Thousands of flights to various airlines have been canceled in recent weeks, as capacity does not match demand, a problem that is also seen across Europe.
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On Thursday, for example, Heathrow asked airlines to eliminate 30 flights from the morning’s maximum schedule, saying it expected “higher passenger numbers than the airport currently has the capacity to handle.”
Many passengers have also had their luggage delayed or missing.
There is also the imminent threat of industrial action, with hundreds of registration staff and ground support agents based at Heathrow voting last month in favor of over-paid industrial action .