Why is there chaos at some UK airports, how long could it go on for and what are your rights? | UK News

Families up and down the UK have been looking forward to their first holiday abroad since the pandemic – only to face chaos at airports or their flights being cancelled at the last minute.

EasyJet and TUI have been forced to axe some flights, citing the usual half-term rush and staff shortages.

Airlines say they have struggled to recruit quickly enough to deal with the pent-up demand after COVID travel restrictions were lifted, while industry bosses are blaming the government for not helping the sector properly recover from the pandemic.

Here Sky News looks at what is happening at the airports, how long disruption could go on for, and what people’s rights are.

Why is it happening?

Following a wave of redundancies and people leaving for different industries during long periods of COVID travel rules, airlines are suffering chronic staff shortages.

Many are struggling to recruit with potential new staff fearing a possible resurgence of the virus with a new variant and choosing more stable sectors instead.

The GMB union, which represents airline staff, says that even when recruitment is successful, workers need months of training and security checks.

Birmingham Airport chief executive Nick Barton said that with little notice of final travel restrictions easing earlier this year, the long recruitment process means airlines are still struggling to catch up.

“The demand for, and the appetite for, aviation was switched on in February and March, and came back almost immediately and we then had to race and catch up,” he said.

“For that simple reason the queueing and the service levels that we’re used to giving simply couldn’t be met.”

Airlines have also cited pent-up demand, with the summer half-term being used by many families as the first window to go abroad in two years.

But government ministers say the industry “should have recruited people ready” for the standard summer rush and post-COVID travel boom.

Which airlines are affected?

EasyJet has cancelled more than 200 flights to and from Gatwick between 28 May and 6 June.

It has apologised for the “late notice of these cancellations” but claims they are “necessary to provide reliable services over this busy period”.

TUI has already been forced to “cancel a small number of flights” from Gatwick, Birmingham and Bristol and apologised for customers “experiencing flight delays”.

They have also announced that six flights a day will be cancelled from Manchester Airport between now and 30 June.

A spokesperson cited “ongoing challenges with our operation” and said they are “contacting impacted customers in departure date order” and they will “automatically” receive a full refund.

Some holidaymakers have had flights cancelled on the day – or the day before – they were due to travel, with not enough time or alternative options to rebook their holidays.

Gatwick said it is “operating normally… but will be busy”. It said Vueling was the only airline experiencing significant check-in queues.

How long could it go on for?

So far, 30 June is the latest date TUI has said it will be cancelling flights.

EasyJet claims flights will only be cancelled until Monday, 6 June.

But Prospect Union, which represents airline workers, said “things could get worse this summer before they get better”.

“Unions warned the government and aviation employers repeatedly that slashing staff through the crisis would lead to problems with the ramp up post-pandemic,” deputy general secretary Garry Graham said.

“Now we see staff shortages across the industry, with huge reliance on overtime to get by day-to-day.

“In many areas, like air traffic control, overtime is only a temporary sticking plaster. So, things could get worse this summer before they get better.”

Naveen Dittakavi, founder and chief executive of Next Vacay, added that “the issues are expected to continue into the summer – with the cancellations and delays seen through the Easter half-term repeating through the upcoming bank holiday weekend and summer holidays”.

But she said the “chaos should slow down by the autumn period, with staff levels ramping up at various airports”.

What are your rights if your flight is cancelled?

Your flight is covered by UK law if it departs from a UK airport, arrives at a UK airport on a UK or EU airline, or arrives at an EU airport on a UK airline.

Under UK law, if your flight is cancelled the airline must either give you a refund or book you on an alternative flight – either with them or a rival airline.

It is up to you whether you still want to travel at that time – or reschedule your holiday at a later date.

Some airlines are just offering refunds, but you are entitled to choose a new flight if you wish.

If another airline is flying “significantly sooner” than your one is able to offer, you may have the right to be booked onto a rival flight, but this has to be negotiated with the company.

On last-minute cancellations, Ms Dittakavi says: “If you’re already at the airport once the flight is cancelled, the best thing you can do is stay calm – you are protected against many things that might go wrong.

“Try calling the airline helpline rather than waiting to speak directly with airport staff. The helpline is often more flexible and may provide you with an e-credit or voucher, or flexibility to change your travel dates quickly.”

Can you claim compensation?

If your flight is cancelled within 14 days of travel – and you can prove it was the airline’s fault – you are entitled to compensation.

Extreme weather, airport and air traffic control staff strikes, and other “extraordinary circumstances” mean the airline can get out of paying, but staff shortages, increased demand and IT issues mean you are likely to be entitled to compensation.

If your flight is cancelled within seven days of travel:

If you were on a short-haul flight of under 1,500km and your new flight arrives two hours or later at your final destination you are entitled to £220.

For cancelled medium-haul flights between 1,500km and 3,500km, which result in a new flight landing three hours or later than planned, you are entitled to £250.

If your long-haul flight of more than 3,500km is cancelled and your new flight lands less than four hours later than originally planned, you can claim £260.

Cancelled long-haul flights that result in a new flight landing more than four hours later at your final destination entitle you to £520.

If your flight is cancelled between seven and 14 days before travel:

For short-haul flights that are less than 1,500km, if the new flight lands more than two hours later than planned you can claim £220.

If your short-haul flight is cancelled and the new flight lands less than two hours later than planned, you only get £110.

Cancelled medium-haul flights that are between 1,500km and 3,500km will entitle you to £350 compensation if the new flight takes off more than two hours later or arrives three or more hours later than the original one.

If the new flight takes off before your original one or arrives less than three hours later than planned, you can still claim £175.

For long-haul flights of more than 3,500km you can claim £520 if you arrive four hours or later than planned or £260 if the new flight takes off less than an hour before the original one or lands less than four hours later than planned.

What if your flight is delayed?

Passengers don’t receive anything if they are delayed by less than two hours.

For delays of two hours or more, the airline is obliged to give you free food and drink at the airport.

If you are re-routed the next day they are obliged to pay for nearby hotel accommodation, as well as transport there – or back home if you can travel there – and back to the airport again.