British Airways and easyJet are the worst culprits for flight chaos, research suggests
- The worst offenders for cancellations are easyJet and British Airways, figures show
- They canceled three out of 100 of their flights within 72 hours of departure
- Low-cost airlines Ryanair and Jet2 were among those with the fewest cancellations
A staggering 17,000 flights have been canceled at the last minute this year as the aviation crisis continues to thwart summer holiday plans.
The worst offenders are easyJet and British Airwayswho have canceled about three out of 100 of their flights within 72 hours of departure.
Budget airlines Ryanair and Jet2 were among those with the fewest cancellations — just one in every thousand flights didn’t take off, according to a study for them BBCThe panorama.
There has been chaos among holidaymakers at airports in recent weeks. The disruption will worsen from this weekend as most school summer holidays begin.
A staggering 17,000 flights have been canceled at the last minute this year as the aviation crisis continues to thwart summer holiday plans. Pictured: British Airways plane taking off from London
The worst offenders are easyJet and British Airways, which have canceled around three in 100 of their flights within 72 hours of departure
Rory Boland, travel editor of which?, told Panorama: “What’s reassuring is that not all airlines are, and not all airports are. Before you book, take a look at what’s happening at the airport near you and what airlines you’re considering.’
Airlines UK Policy Director Rob Griggs told Panorama: “I don’t think any wrong decisions were made when planning for the summer. Of course it could be operational that day, maybe different things could be done in different places.’
Heathrow, the country’s busiest airport, has capped passenger numbers at 100,000 per day until September 11, leading to more cancellations.
While some in the industry blame Brexit for worsening staffing shortages, the government denies this, citing similar staffing issues at airports in other EU countries.
Aviation Secretary Robert Courts MP said: “Ultimately this is a sector that is privately run, privately owned and privately operated and it’s up to them to get the people into the sector who need them.”
Panorama: Chaos at the airport: what went wrong? airs tonight at 8pm on BBC1.
