Updated: Let us help you plan ahead for smooth summer travel

European airports are struggling to cope with an extreme staffing deficit after making over 190,000 aviation workers redundant during the pandemic. As a result, flights are being proactively and reactively cancelled, which can be a source of great frustration for travellers.

With airports now capping summer passenger numbers per day, some per hour and airlines requested to stop selling tickets, there will no doubt be a knock-on effect for business travellers.

To help your summer travel run as smoothly as possible, we have a few tips. This blog will be updated fortnightly, so please keep checking for more information and advice.

Stay on top of the news. Your airline should contact you with plenty of notice if your flight is due to be cancelled. You can also keep up with airline and airport updates through news channels such as BBC and Sky.  

Change airports. Bigger airports are more likely to suffer from long delays and cancellations, so it may be worth travelling further to take off from smaller regional airports.

Arrive early. Amid reports of lengthy delays at some UK/European airports, it’s sensible to assume if you travel over summer you will have to wait and arrive early. In June, the airports with the lengthiest delays were Gatwick, Bristol, Heathrow, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Fast track. Get through security quicker with a fast-track pass, which can be bought for most airports for around £5-7. These may be limited so buying in advance is advised.

Travel light. Avoid taking hold luggage and travel as light as possible to avoid lengthy delays at the baggage carousel and the possibility of lost luggage.

What is the latest on airports and passenger capping?

• Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) is capping passenger numbers to 70,000 per day.
• Frankfurt Airport (FRA) has chosen to cap the number of flights per hour (96 to 88).
• London Gatwick Airport (LGW) has announced it will limit the number of flights to 825 per day July and 850 in August, to reduce chaos and same-day cancellations by airlines.
• London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is capping summer passenger numbers to 100,000 per day and requested airlines to stop selling tickets.

What is the latest on the airlines and flight cancellations?

With airports capping passenger numbers and ongoing staffing issues, some airlines are proactively cancelling flights, many of which are on high-frequency routes (more than once daily). We recommend double-checking your airline’s website before flying and staying on top of the news.

British Airways has placed a sales freeze on short-haul flights from the airport until 8 August in response to the cap, which it hopes will allow it to meet allocations while also freeing up space on flights for passengers whose existing bookings may be cancelled.

What to do if your flight is cancelled

 If you’re flying from a UK airport on any airline, arriving at a UK airport on an EU or UK airline, or arriving at an airport in the EU on a UK airline, you have a number of rights under UK law.

What you’re entitled to depend on what caused the cancellation and how much notice you were given.

If the disruption wasn’t the airline’s fault and was caused by “extraordinary circumstances” which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken, you won’t be eligible for compensation.

This includes issues such as extreme weather or air traffic control strikes.

If your flight is cancelled with less than two weeks’ notice, you may be able to claim compensation based on the timings of the alternative flight you’re offered.

The amount you’re entitled to also depends on how far you were travelling. For example:

• For flights under 1,500km, such as Glasgow to Amsterdam, you can claim up to £220 per person
• For flights more than 3,500km, such as London to New York, you can claim up to £520 per person

If you have access to an online booking tool with Corporate Travel Management (CTM), you can use it to amend your flight itinerary. Please contact your CTM agent if you do not have access and require assistance.

What to do if your flight is affected by strike action

If a flight delay of more than 3 hours or even a flight cancellation occurs due to a strike, the airline must offer travellers alternative transportation. If the airline does not fulfil this obligation, you can book a substitute transport yourself. You can then charge the airline for the costs incurred.

If you have access to an online booking tool with CTM, you can use it to amend your flight itinerary. Please contact your CTM agent if you do not have access and require assistance.

Stay up to date with the news

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Information is sourced from third party sources. While effort is taken to verify the accuracy of this information, CTM recommends that travellers seek independent advice as information may change regularly.