Holidaymakers warned to get to airport at least THREE HOURS before flights as travel chaos sparks huge delays

HOLIDAYMAKERS have been warned to get to airports three hours before their flight to avoid the current travel chaos.

Thousands of flights have been cancelled or delayed due to staff shortages leaving passengers stranded.

The chaos has now caused a knock-on effect at international airports – with some advising Brits to arrive at least three hours before their flight.

Previously, holidaymakers only needed to be an airport around two hours before a short-haul flight departed.

Brussels Airport, which has also been plagued by staff shortages, tweeted: “We remind you that due to the national demonstration on Monday, no departing passenger flights are operated.

“For Tuesday and Wednesday, we expect a large number of passengers following the rebookings of the reservations initially planned for Monday.

“For departures, please arrive at the airport in time: 2 hours in advance for Schengen flights and 3 hours in advance for non-Schengen flights. Check the status of your flight and prepare your hand luggage in order to limit screening times.

“For arriving flights, please check the flight status on our website, as flight times may be affected.”

It comes after Tui and Ryanair warned travellers to also arrive three hours before their flight time to allow time to check in.

This was instead of the usual recommended two-hour slot.

Heathrow Airport, which has been hit with huge delays, also urges Brits to keep three hours spare for their flight.

While Manchester also advised passengers to arrive three hours before – even for shorter journeys.

Brits are bracing themselves for a nightmare summer with 1.5million easyJet customers likely to be hit by cancellations.

The airline is reportedly planning to axe 10,000 flights to holiday hotspots like Greece and Spain during July, August and September.

EasyJet has already scrapped 7 per cent of the 16,000 journeys it was expected to run between July and September.

This is alongside the 600 cancelled flights this month.

It comes after photos taken at airports up and down the country showed holidaymakers spread out across the floors with bags piling up in the ongoing travel carnage.

Kids were seen sleeping on Heathrow’s floor with travellers left at their wit’s end as airports cancel thousands of flights.

Meanwhile, hundreds of suitcases piled up at the airport, with passengers told they may not get their luggage back for two days.

Ryanair passengers are also facing more disruption this week with pilots in Belgium joining cabin crew on strikes in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy.