Flights cancelled LIVE: BA cancels MORE trips leaving Brits’ summer plans in RUINS; plus easyJet, TUI & Ryanair latest
TENS of thousands of passengers are anticipating turmoil this summer as airlines prepare to announce a new wave of cancellations.
On Friday, it was reported that EasyJet is already cancelling thousands of flights this summer due to staff shortages.
The airline has said: “The vast majority of customers’ flights will not be impacted and of those that are, the majority of customers will be re-booked within 24 hours.
“We will be notifying affected customers directly in the coming days with information on their alternative flight or the option to rebook or receive a refund.”
British Airways has also cancelled several flights, sparked by an amnesty on take-off and landing slots.
It previously intended to carry 1.8 million passengers across more than 9,000 flights from Heathrow during July alone.
Read our live flight delays blog below for the latest information...
July 4 travel chaos with 3,000 flights canceled this week and ‘exhausted’ Delta pilots protesting
AS the Fourth of July weekend approaches, travel mayhem is underway with thousands of flights canceled this week and Delta pilots protesting work conditions.
Approximately 3,000 flights were canceled this week, with American and Delta nixing the most plane trips, according to .
The canceled flights come as an email warning from Delta advised of "operational issues" and urged flyers to rebook their trips with "no fare difference or change fees."
On Thursday, Delta pilots and flight attendants were photographed taking part in an informational picket at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia.
A Delta Airlines pilot, who wishes to remain anonymous, spoke with about why so many flights are getting canceled.
He told the news outlet: "Obviously there is an airline pilot shortage across the board for most domestic airlines."
How get a refund or compensation if your flight is cancelled
Here is how to get a refund or compenstion if your flight is cancelled.
Mwanwhile, a travel expert has revealed what you should do if you are affected by the cancellations this summer.
Brits take to social media to complain
Fuming Brits complained on social media calling it "carnage" and "total chaos" - one man wrote: "Absolute shambles, complete chaos & only found out at check in with no prior notification."
This week's cancellations come just days after Heathrow descended into chaos with suitcases abandoned across terminals.
Covid spike has made 'system pressures' and 'ongoing issues' worse
A spokesperson for the airline told Sun Online that a spike in Covid cases had made "system pressures" and "ongoing issues" at airports worse.
However, they explained that just over one per cent of their flights had been impacted this month.
They said: "Due to a spike in Covid cases, Aer Lingus has been forced to cancel five return flights and one direct flight today, June 30; and three return flights and one direct flight tomorrow, July 1.
"Due to a mandate from London Heathrow Airport Authority, one return flight to Dublin Heathrow today, June 30 has also been cancelled. Just over one per cent of Aer Lingus flights have been impacted by cancellations in June.
"Aer Lingus wishes to apologise to those impacted and teams at the airline are working to re-accommodate impacted passengers on the next available services as efficiently as possible. Aer Lingus anticipated the return of demand for travel once Covid restrictions were removed and built appropriate buffers into our plans in order to deal with a reasonable level of additional disruption."
Another airline cancels flights to Heathrow
IRISH airline Aer Lingus has been forced to cancel several flights to Heathrow and from Heathrow today.
The airline confirmed that staff shortages were behind the cancellations.
Three trips to London were scheduled to take off at 7.30am, 3.55pm and 8.15pm, but have been cancelled.
Inbound flights from Heathrow have also been grounded, due to set off at 11.20am and 7.35pm.
Two other journeys from Dublin to Hamburg (7am) and Berlin (5.55pm) have been cancelled as well.
Arrivals from both Hamburg, set to fly at 11.50am and Berlin, departing at 11.15pm will also no longer operate.
It's not the first time this week Aer Lingus have cancelled flights, with trips to Lyon, Geneva, Munich, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Edinburgh all called off on Wednesday.
When will easyJet staff strike?
Ryanair are not the only airline to be facing walkouts this weekend, with easyJet on-board crew in Spain set for nine days of action in July, starting from this week between July 1 and 3.
The strikes will see three 72-hour stoppages at fortnightly intervals, with hundreds of crew stopping work at easyJet’s bases in Barcelona, Málaga and Palma.
Workers will walk out in three phases across the month - between the 1st and 3rd, between the 15th and 17th, and finally between the 29th and 31st.
An easyJet spokesperson said: “We are extremely disappointed with this action as we have made considerable progress towards a new collective labour agreement and so would like to continue a constructive dialogue with them.
“Should the industrial action go ahead there could be some disruption to our flying programme to and from Málaga, Palma and Barcelona during the strike period.
"However, at this stage, easyJet plans to operate its full schedule and we would like to reassure customers that we will do everything possible to minimise any disruption.”
'The entire aviation industry continues to face the most challenging period in its history'
A British Airways spokesperson: "We took pre-emptive action earlier this year to reduce our summer schedule to provide customers with as much notice as possible about any changes to their travel plans.
"As the entire aviation industry continues to face into the most challenging period in its history, regrettably it has become necessary to make some further reductions.
"We're in touch with customers to apologise and offer to rebook them or issue a full refund."
British Airways cancels 650 flights next month
British Airways has cancelled more flights next month, affecting more than 105,000 passengers.
The flag carrier has already cancelled 16,000 flights between March and October, with many scrapped in advance.
However the airline has been forced to reduce its flights further in July due to the ongoing travel chaos.
According to the , flights from Gatwick and Heathrow have been affected, reducing flights from 8,383 to 7,731.
Destinations affected including Spanish hotspots Barcelona, Majorca and Malaga, as well as cities in Portugal and Greece.
The airline has claimed the cancellations are due to ongoing staff shortages.
Disruption at airports
Airlines have also been forced to cancel thousands of flights in recent months due to staff shortages.
BA confirmed that 16,000 flights between March and October would be cancelled to prevent short-notice cancellations.
Both easyJet and TUI were also forced to cancel hundreds of flights this month, with easyJet warning they could cut another 10,000 this summer.
Lufthansa, who originally confirmed they would cancel 900 flights this summer, announced another 2,200 would be cut.
And more chaos is expected this summer due to strike action - some 16,000 BA workers are threatening to join 700 Heathrow Airport check-in staff in a planned walk-out.
Groom 'furious' at BA after case containing outift not put on flight
A "furious" groom has hit out at British Airways after the suitcase containing his wedding outfit was not loaded on to his flight from Heathrow to Italy.
Farhad Ehtesham, 32, from Guildford, Surrey, faces a race against time to be reunited with his baggage before tying the knot in Tuscany on Saturday.
The business development manager told the PA news agency the airline has failed to respond to his messages.
He and his bride-to-be, Rachel, flew from Heathrow's Terminal 5 to Rome's Fiumicino airport on Wednesday night.
They carried her dress as hand luggage but checked in a suitcase containing his wedding outfit, which consists of a green jacket with cream linen trousers and a gold-coloured tie.
It also has other crucial items such as presents and decorations, plus clothes for their honeymoon.
Mr Ehtesham said: "The moment we landed, we got an email saying 'Your luggage is not there, please contact us'.
"That's when panic starts setting in. You might think for clothes you can just buy others and try to claim through insurance, but it's not that simple. I can't replace a wedding outfit that was planned nine months ahead. It's just unbelievable."
BA forced to reduce flights further in July
British Airways has been forced to reduce its flights further in July due to the ongoing travel chaos.
According to the , flights from Gatwick and Heathrow have been affected, reducing flights from 8,383 to 7,731.
Destinations affected including Spanish hotspots Barcelona, Majorca and Malaga, as well as cities in Portugal and Greece.
The airline has claimed the cancellations are due to ongoing staff shortages.
Passenger's furious tirade over 'b******t' at Heathrow T2
One irrate traverller, Steve Tango, vented his fury at long winding queues at Heathrow T2.
He blasted on Twitter: "Ladies & Gents this is the b******t at London Heathrow T2 utter chaos.
"To get to security check in then herded outside like cattle.
"Joined a cue snakes & ladders absolute pathetic.
"Not enough security staff at LHR terminals. The b******s that run the airport w*****s .
EasyJet statement on nine-day strike action from Friday
An easyJet spokesperson said: “We are extremely disappointed with this action as we have made considerable progress towards a new collective labour agreement and so would like to continue a constructive dialogue with them.
“Should the industrial action go ahead there could be some disruption to our flying programme to and from Málaga, Palma and Barcelona during the strike period.
"However, at this stage, easyJet plans to operate its full schedule and we would like to reassure customers that we will do everything possible to minimise any disruption.”
Ryanair spokesperson say strike action 'poorly supported'
A spokesperson from airline Ryanair told the Sun Online that they still expect to operate a full schedule this weekend and that the strikes were "poorly supported".
They said: “Ryanair expects to operate a full schedule to/from Spain this weekend (30thJune, 1st July & 2nd July) despite minor and poorly supported labour strikes in Spain.”
Ryanair are not the only airline to be facing walkouts this weekend, with easyJet on-board crew in Spain set for nine days of action in July, starting from this week between July 1 and 3.
The strikes will see three 72-hour stoppages at fortnightly intervals, with hundreds of crew stopping work at easyJet’s bases in Barcelona, Málaga and Palma.
Cancellations and disruption to carry on through the summer
Gatwick Airport has capped the number of flight departures during the peak summer season to 825 daily flights in July and 850 in August.
This could lead to the cancellation of as many as 10,000 flights this summer.
German flag carrier Lufthansa is cancelling more than 2,200 flights this summer.
Labour accuses Grant Shapps of being 'missing in action'
Shadow transport minister Mike Kane has accused Grant Shapps of being "missing in action" when it comes to aviation.
Responding to the Transport Secretary's 22-point plan, Mr Kane told the Commons: "He is missing in action when it comes to aviation. Now, he has mentioned the chaos between Easter and the Jubilee weekend. He did not hold one meeting with aviation bosses during that time.
"Now EasyJet have announced among others that they could cancel 10,000 flights in the next three months.
"He needs to step up to the plate, he needs to go to the Prime Minister, he needs to knock on the door, and he needs to clean up the mess."
Which? says last-minute cancellations are 'unacceptable'
Which? has called the daily flight cancellations for thousands of passengers “totally unacceptable”.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “Thousands of EasyJet passengers have had their travel plans thrown into chaos by flight cancellations. Some holidaymakers have been notified on the day they were due to travel, which is totally unacceptable.
“We continue to hear concerning examples of the airline failing to fulfil its legal obligations to passengers and ignoring their rights. If a flight is cancelled within 14 days of departure, passengers could be entitled to compensation and should be offered the option of being rerouted using another carrier if necessary. We know this requirement is not always being met, so the government and Civil Aviation Authority must intervene where airlines are playing fast and loose with the rules.
“The cavalier approach some airlines are currently taking towards their customers is a reminder of why passenger rights must be strengthened. The government should drop plans to slash compensation for delayed and cancelled domestic flights and give the CAA direct fining powers so it can properly hold airlines to account when they flout the law.”
Explained: Why wouldn’t I get my money back?
The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
They’ll usually say this is because it is down to an “extraordinary circumstance” but it can be a tetchy subject, and one plenty of customers prefer to contest.
You can try challenging this if you think you should have got your some money back, or at least flown in the first place.
For example, other airlines may have set off at the same time yours was kept back.
Take any complaints to aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
You’re also not going to get any money back if you were forewarned of the cancellation.
If you’re told at least two weeks in advance you should have time to swap your booking without paying a penalty, at least that’s the airline’s thinking as they won’t dish out automatic refunds.
You also won’t be able to claim compensation for flights cancelled but rerouted that get you to your destination no more than two hours later than planned.
You can’t of course get your money back if you do opt for the alternative flight.
European labour strife & staff shortages disrupt summer travel
Growing labour strife in Europe is driving expectations of further travel headaches during the busy summer season.
Airports and airlines are clamouring to find more workers, minimize cancelled flights and reduce delays for passengers.
Airport managers in Europe and Canada are struggling to quickly recruit and process new hires, even as the rebound in air travel from the pandemic-induced slump leads to cancelled flights and hours-long lines.
German flag carrier Lufthansa and its subsidiary Eurowings said they were scrapping over 1,000 flights in July, or 5% of their planned weekend capacity.
Grant Shapps tells airports and airlines to avoid summer disruption
Grant Shapps has told airlines it was up to them to avoid a repeat of recent chaotic scenes at airports during the upcoming summer holiday season,
The Givernment has today published a 22-point plan on what it was doing to support the industry.
Transport secretary Shapps said in a statement: "It's now on airports and airlines to commit to running the flights they've promised or cancel them with plenty of time to spare so we can avoid the kind of scenes we saw at Easter and half term."
Will I get my money back if I cancel my flight?
If a refund is due, the company says it will refund the card the booking was made under.
This should arrive in three to four days, but can take 28 days. You are advised to contact easyJet if it takes longer and you have 12 months to request a refund.
If you do not fly for any reason, you are entitled to money back from government flight taxes.
From the UK, these are £13 per flight for over-16s on all routes - except for Egypt, Jordan and Israel which is £80.
How do you cancel an easyJet flight?
To cancel an easyJet flight, you need to go to the easyJet website.
Go to the Manage Bookings section and use your surname and booking reference to log in, and then choose the flight reservation you wish to cancel and click “Cancel”.
If you are asked to pay a cancellation fee, you can do so by entering your card payment details - and your flight should now be cancelled.
Alternatively, customers can call the easyJet customer service team on 0330 365 5000.
You can also cancel flights at an easyJet Help Desk at most airports - but this must be under two hours before take-off.
If your flight is cancelled due to a coronavirus travel ban or the Foreign Office advises against travel to your destination, you will be fully refunded.
But if you choose not to fly due to personal safety concerns and the flight does go ahead, you are not entitled to your money back.
Labour's David Lammy forced to apologise to BA staff
Labour frontbencher David Lammy has apologised to British Airways workers as he admitted making a "mistake" in condemning their plans to strike over pay.
The shadow foreign secretary had provoked anger from unions including the party's single biggest donor, Unite, which accused Labour of hitting a "new low" by "supporting bad bosses".
Mr Lammy has written to constituents to say he had "mistakenly understood" the situation to mean BA check-in staff were seeking an above-inflation pay rise, as he admitted: "I was not across the details of the case."
On Wednesday he urged BA to "restore the pay of their loyal workforce".
Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer backed down from disciplining his frontbenchers who defied orders not to join striking rail workers on picket lines last week.
Holidaymakers face chaos at airports this summer as BA staff demand the 10% of pay they had "stolen" from them last year as they faced "fire and rehire" tactics.
Mr Lammy was "categorical" in saying he did not support the check-in workers' action during an interview with the BBC's Sophie Raworth on Sunday.
EasyJet crew to strike from July 1
EasyJet on-board crew in Spain will ALSO strike for nine days in July, starting from this week between July 1 and 3rd.
Flights from airports Barcelona, Malaga and Palam will be affected.
Holidaymakers will be informed if their flights are cancelled, although last week's strike affected "less than 2 per cent of 9,000 flights" according to Ryanair.
BA passenger accuses 'scumbag' airline worker of stealing AirPods
A BRITISH Airways passenger has accused a "scumbag" airline worker of pinching his AirPods.
Tim Briggs, 33, left his £150 earphones on the aircraft after a flight from Austin, Texas, to Heathrow three weeks ago.
He reported the earphones as missing but no one handed them in and he believes they were stolen by an employee.
The earphones have a tracking device linked to city worker Tim's computer. He claims he has watched them go repeatedly between an address in North West London and BA's Heathrow base.
He wrote online: "I get to watch the BA employee who stole them take them between their flat in Maida Vale and the BA Learning Academy every day. Scumbag."
A spokesman for British Airways said: "We are currently investigating the matter."