Over 15,000 holidaymakers remain stranded in airport chaos: British Airways and easyJet both cancel 100 Heathrow-Gatwick flights amid staffing crises

  • British Airways and EasyJet both have cancelled today’s flights from airports
  • According to some estimates, cuts could impact up to 15,000 people
  • Last night’s flight was delayed due to overtime work by staff 

Many Brits were unable to travel abroad due to the continuing problems with their flights.

Heathrow and Gatwick were canceled due to schedule cuts as well as the departure of staff from Covid.

Among them are 96 flights from British Airways as well as ten EasyJet services. 

The Independent reports that up to 15,000 passengers might be affected.

Staff working too hard caused the delay in reporting one plane to Naples last night from Gatwick.

EasyJet told them: ‘This is due to earlier disruption your flight resulting in the crew reaching their maximum legal working hours.’ 

Heathrow and Gatwick flight cancellations have been caused by schedule reduction as well as staff being forced off work with Covid

Heathrow and Gatwick flights were cancelled due to schedule changes as well as employees being forced from work by Covid

A busy Heathrow Airport terminal 2 on bank holiday Monday as travellers continue to face lengthy delays

Heathrow Airport terminal 2, busy on Monday bank holiday as travelers continue to encounter long delays

This is the end of it. For disputes about jobs or pay, 40,000 rail workers will go on strike.

Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) said that a Yes vote from its members could cause the greatest rail strike in recent history.

The union said Network Rail is planning to cut at least 2,500 safety-critical maintenance jobs as part of a £2 billion reduction in spending on the network, while workers at train operators have been subject to pay freezes and changes to their terms and conditions.

So strike action can begin as early as June. 

Passengers queue inside the departures area of Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport in London on Friday

London Heathrow Airport passengers queue up in the departures section of Terminal 5 on Friday

The situation was the same at Manchester Airport, where the lines were lengthy and slow

Manchester Airport had the exact same situation, with long and slow lines.

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT said that rail workers had been forced to deal with freezes in their pay and the possibility of losing their jobs. He also warned against repeated assaults on their terms.

Network Rail’s 2,500 safety-critical positions will be eliminated. This will make it more difficult for people to get into accidents and increase the likelihood of trains flying off tracks.

“Train operating firms have been praising our members for their contribution during the pandemic, but they have not maintained staff salaries in line with inflation or soaring living expenses.

“Thousands upon thousands of railway workers have had their lives reduced and are now losing patience.

Trade unions can effectively address the cost of living crisis by standing up for members and taking industrial action against employers who are unwilling to listen to reasoned arguments.

“An international rail strike would bring down the country but members’ safety and livelihoods are our top priorities.”

Advertisement