Tens of thousands of Britons are stranded across airports all over Europe after yet another series of flight cancellations as the half-term travel chaos shows no signs of abating.
Many families and couples were due to return to the UK on Saturday but 100 flights were canceled due to the ongoing issues with staff shortages that have plagued airports for months.
Dozens of flights have already been canceled on Sunday, with the biggest issue at Gatwick where Wizz Air, British Airways and easyJet have grounded flights.
The lengthy queues, mass cancellations and horrendous delays passengers faced are the fault of Brexit, London mayor Sadiq Khan has said.
He has called on the government to relax immigration rules and allow European workers who were employed in the aviation industry before Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic to return in order to plug the labor shortage in the sector.
However, Transport Minister Grant Shapps outright dismissed calls to open the door to more “cheap” foreign workers in a bid to relieve the pressure on the aviation sector.
He accused travel bosses of “cutting too far” during the pandemic and said it was up to the sector to solve the issues.
1654443283
Unite boss blames government failure to attach job guarantees to furlough money for travel chaos
Unite boss Sharon Graham has blamed the government’s failure to attach job guarantees to Covid furlough money for the travel chaos passengers have faced.
She said on Twitter: “This shambles is on @ GOVUK’s failure to attach job guarantees to the £ 8billion in furlough wages it gave to airlines.
“There is now a chronic shortage of staff, if travel bosses do not get their act together, this chaos could go on until next year.”
Joe Middleton5 June 2022 16:34
1654441640
What are my consumer rights if my flight has been canceled?
Dozens of flights are being canceled by airlines each day due to staff shortages and absences due to sickness.
British Airways, easyJet and Tui have all made the decision to cut back their summer schedules, with most routes being canceled in advance and passengers notified.
Our travel correspondent Simon Calder runs through your consumer rights if your flight is canceled.
Joe Middleton5 June 2022 16:07
1654440034
Airlines need to ‘follow the rules when flights are disrupted’ say consumer group Which?
Lisa Webb, a law expert at consumer rights group Which ?, said airlines needed to “follow the rules when flights are disrupted” following a “hellish week” for travelers.
“The shameful scenes at UK airports this half-term are the result of an industry in which some airlines feel they can get away with ignoring consumer rights and acting with near impunity,” she said.
“It is clear that passenger rights need to be strengthened, so the Government must drop plans to cut compensation for delayed and canceled flights and the Civil Aviation Authority must be given the power to issue direct fines so it can hold airlines to account when they flout the law. ”
Joe Middleton5 June 2022 15:40
1654438603
Pictured: queues at Eurostar in Paris
The first image shows theGare du Nord terminal and the second is the Eurostar waiting room.
