UK travellers face a summer of disruption as two major strikes threaten flights and rail services in June. British Airways workers have voted to support industrial action, while Ryanair faces walkouts by staff in parts of Europe. Meanwhile, more than 40,000 RMT Union members from Network Rail and 13 train operators are set to strike on 21, 23 and 25 June, with services likely disrupted across the whole week.
The Jubilee bank holiday saw 750 flights out of the UK cancelled, according to aviation data firm Cirium, with around 466 return flights axed. Staff shortages from job cuts made during the pandemic have been driving cancellations and delays. Aviation consultant Chris Tarry warned there are “unlikely to be enough workers in certain areas given wages and working conditions”.
Heathrow airport’s boss John Holland-Kaye said it could take up to 18 months for the aviation sector to “fully recover capacity”. Passengers have been advised not to travel on trains unless necessary during the rail strikes, which coincide with events like Glastonbury Festival and a cricket test match in Leeds.
Some travellers are switching to UK holidays. Sykes Holiday Cottages reported a 22% rise in bookings in the past two weeks compared to the same period last year, which chief executive Graham Donoghue said was “at least in part due to widespread reports of overseas travel disruption”.
