Passengers with travel plans for the Platinum Jubilee long weekend in the UK are facing delays, with British Airways and easyJet canceling over 100 flights to and from the UK on June 2, 2022.
More than 120 short-haul flights to and from London Heathrow (LHR) were canceled by British Airways, and easyJet has canceled at least 36 domestic and European flights to and from its biggest base, London Gatwick (LGW). easyJet previously announced it is scrapping 24 LGW flights a day between May 28 and June 6, 2022. TUI has also cut six flights per day from Manchester Airport in June (MAN).
The delays and cancellations have been going on for weeks, with plenty of disgruntled customers posting their frustration on social media, some calling the situation of long queues and packed passengers at Gatwick airport “unsafe”.
I’m in airport hell. @Gatwick_Airport this is so unsafe. You’ve jammed a full transatlantic flight into the tiniest corner of the airport and you’ve delayed our flight so we are all stuck in here. pic.twitter.com/vNgcRn68pV
— Jessica Sealey (@Jess2Sealey) May 30, 2022
On May 31, 2022, British unions announced plans to ballot British Airways check-in staff at London Heathrow on strike action and gave warning that passengers could face fight disruptions as the peak summer travel holiday starts.
As it is, travelers have already faced disruption over Easter and May holiday travel periods due to airline and airport staff shortages.
easyJet also canceled hundreds of flights on May 26, 2022 due to an IT system failure.
Plenty of aviation industry employees were made redundant or left the sector during the pandemic, when international travel was grounded.
Now that travel is back, airports and airlines facing staff shortages are struggling to meet the swift increase in demand.. On May 31, 2022, IATA recognized this worldwide issue and called for action to retain ground handling staff.
“The shortages we are experiencing today are a symptom of the longer-term challenges to achieve a stable talent base in ground handling,” Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior VP for operations, safety and security, said in a statement.
Many people are expected to travel over the Jubilee weekend – check before you head off:
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) June 2, 2022
Check @PoD_travelnews before heading to Dover
✈ Check your airport or airline before flying
Check your trains are running @NationalRailEnq
Check your route @NationalHways pic.twitter.com/8e7pvjD1GQ
Those with travel plans over the long weekend are urged to check the latest flight status, and review options available when flights are delayed or canceled.
