Thousands of UK holidaymakers are facing a fresh wave of travel-induced headaches after more than 40 flights were cancelled at major hubs across Britain, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports.
Services operated by airlines including British Airways, American Airlines, Air Canada, easyJet and WestJet have been pulled from schedules, disrupting journeys to major destinations including New York, Toronto, Mumbai, Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin.
The latest wave of cancellations has piled further pressure on Britain’s busiest airports, with Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester continuing to battle weeks of disruption heading into the busy summer getaway season.
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Flight-tracking data and passenger-rights monitoring services recorded a sharp rise in cancellations on May 14, with dozens of departures disappearg from airport boards over a short period.
The latest bout of cancellations follows repeated disruption incidents earlier this spring which saw travellers stranded and long-haul routes severely affected. Heathrow has once again borne the brunt of the problems due to its packed international schedule, while Gatwick and Manchester have also seen significant disruption across both European and long-haul networks.
Passengers travelling to North America have been among the hardest hit. Flights between London and New York JFK operated by British Airways and American Airlines have faced cancellations and lengthy delays, while services to Toronto and Calgary involving Air Canada and WestJet have also been disrupted.
Travellers heading to India have also faced major issues, with services linking the UK and Mumbai hit by cancellations and timetable changes. Aviation analysts warned that when a single long-haul aircraft falls out of rotation, the knock-on impact can quickly spread across multiple routes.
Short-haul European routes have not escaped the turmoil either. Flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester to Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin have all seen cancellations, causing missed onward connections for passengers travelling internationally.
Budget carriers and flagship airlines alike have struggled to keep schedules intact as mounting operational pressures, aircraft shortages and crew availability issues continue to squeeze the aviation sector.
Disruptions are already sparking concern ahead of the peak summer holiday period, with experts warning airlines and airports may have little room for error as passenger numbers surge through June and July. Travellers affected by cancellations are being urged to check airline apps regularly and act quickly to secure alternative flights before replacement seats are snapped up.
Under UK air passenger rules, many passengers departing from British airports could be entitled to assistance, accommodation and potentially compensation depending on the cause of the disruption. Carriers can now sidestep compensation obligations by scrapping flights with a minimum of two weeks’ advance warning, allowing them to postpone summer decisions while avoiding financial penalties.
The latest data, compiled on May 14 using a number of flight-tracking platforms, coincides with another batch of flight data released on Tuesday by aviation analytics company Cirium. Cirium found that airlines have dramatically ramped up flight cancellations for May as jet fuel costs soar and supply concerns mount. In total, Cirium recorded 296 departures from UK airports scrapped this month as of Tuesday; a sharp rise from 120 cancellations just six days earlier.
Data for the busy summer period indicates week-on-week timetable cuts remain modest. Outbound services for June are down by 48 compared with a week ago, following the axing of 0.2 per cent of flights. July’s week-on-week decrease sits at 31, while August has seen just four fewer departures. Across Europe, Lufthansa’s airline group revealed in April it would axe 20,000 flights over the subsequent six months to conserve fuel.
Last week, British Airways’ parent firm IAG cautioned its profits would take a hit as it anticipates spending approximately €2bn (£1.72bn) beyond budget on fuel this year, with BA boss Luis Gallego saying that IAG does not believe there will be “any interruption for the summer” in terms of jet fuel supplies.
Earlier this month, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander indicated summer holiday arrangements would not face significant disruption because of shortages. She disclosed that additional fuel has been brought in from the United States, while UK refineries have ramped up their output. The government has also implemented a short-term regulatory adjustment permitting airlines to consolidate passengers from various flights onto a reduced number of aircraft in order to conserve fuel.
Developments come following jet fuel costs more than doubling since the Middle East conflict began, with Iran continuing to control tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing multiple carriers to revise their schedules.