Airlines are expected to announce a series of cancellations to UK summer flights this week, aiming to minimise disruption during the peak holiday season. A government 'amnesty' on airport slot rules is in place until Friday, allowing carriers to change schedules without facing penalties.
Ministers urged airlines to review their plans after chaos in May, blamed on a shortage of airline and airport staff. British Airways said the move would help provide 'certainty' to customers, allowing it to consolidate quieter daily flights to multi-frequency destinations and protect more holiday flights.
The Department for Transport (DfT) amnesty gives airlines a short window to hand back slots they are not confident they can operate. A DfT spokesperson said: 'This will help passengers find alternative arrangements ahead of time, rather than face the kind of last-minute cancellations seen over the Easter and half-term holidays.'
Heathrow Airport encouraged airlines to take this opportunity to reconsider summer schedules without penalty. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said the move would allow rival airlines to step in and fly cancelled routes, reducing cancellations and ending the practice of airlines flying near-empty planes to retain slots.
Thousands of aviation jobs were lost during the pandemic, and many businesses have struggled to recruit enough staff to meet resurgent demand. Gatwick has already announced it will reduce flights due to staff shortages, while Manchester Airport warned it cannot return to pre-pandemic standards until autumn.
Aviation consultant Paul Charles predicted thousands of cancellations this week, leading to less last-minute disruption but a 'summer of stress' for passengers. Staffing levels remain 20-30% lower than they should be, and strikes involving British Airways and EasyJet staff pose further disruption risks.
