People will be packing their bags as they prepare to jet off to another country for their Easter holidays.
But as they do, many of them will be faced with delays. This is due to a number of staff coming down with covid and thus having to cancel flights.
The worst hit seems to be easyJet and British Airways (BA) who over the last few days, have cancelled hundreds of flights.
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It was reported by The Independent today (April 7) that British Airways’ number of cancellations rose by 20 to 74 today, while easyJet’s shrank by six to 52.
Travel expert Simon Calder updated anxious travellers and added that Gatwick seems to have it worst adding: "Like British Airways, which is cancelling similar numbers of flights, easyJets blame staff shortages due to Covid-19. Yet other short-haul airlines – such as Ryanair, Wizz Air and Jet2 – do not seem to be having similar problems.
"Regardless of the cause and the amount of notice given, the standard rule when a flight is cancelled is that you are entitled to travel on the original day of departure.
"If the cancelling airline cannot get you there on its own planes, and a seat is available on another carrier’s flight, it must pay for your trip on its rival airline."
The news comes as passengers have been given an urgent warning about renewing their passports after it was revealed that previously UK residents needed to have a passport that was at least three months in date however Ryanair and easyJet - the latter of which is already caught up in flight cancellations - need six months.
But whilst all this is going on, it will naturally cause stress for many.
So what do experts say passengers can do to help make their journey easier?
Shahzad Ali, chief executive at security training experts Get Licensed, said the industry was failing to keep pace with needs for experienced personnel increasing all all sectors, reports Hull Live.
He said: "The airport queues are down to a number of factors, but the main one is due to lack of security personnel.
"Staffing and recruitment issues have affected every sector as we see a return to normality following the pandemic, but one industry still catching up is security. This causes major issues, especially when security is vital in almost every sector - from supermarkets to travel. The rate the industry is recruiting is not keeping pace with business demand."
Get Licensed has listed its top tips on making the airport experience smoother and less stressful with essential advice for passengers planning to jet away in the coming weeks.
Don't arrive too early
One strategy is to turn up well ahead of a flight. However, this adds to the pressure of the earlier departures, which can cause extra delays.
Prepare
It makes it so much easier and quicker for security to prepare carry-on luggage and remove any restricted items.
Wear sensible shoes - slip ons are the easiest - and remove any jewellery, belts and glasses.
Make sure liquids are contained in a clear plastic bag and take an extra 10 minutes to prepare and make everything quicker for yourself and security.
Clear tray and belongings
Make sure the clear plastic bag isn't covered up by anything in the tray as it goes through the scanner. If it's seen to be covered or looks like it is hidden inside a bag, you are more likely to be stopped and checked.
Make sure your clear plastic bag and belongings are separate in a tray and you stick to the rules.
If you forget a clear bag you can pick one up for free at the airport.
Fast-track security
You can often pay for fast-track security which in Glasgow Airport is £5.99.
They add: "To help speed things up even more, it’s always a good idea to arrive at the airport prepared for security screenings. Please double-check in advance what you can and cannot take in your hand luggage. You can find a list of items here."
Speak up
If you have a valid excuse and are in need of getting through quicker, just ask as you may be allowed to jump the queue. You might not, however, get sympathy from the others in the queue.
Spot the right queue
Believe it or not, business travellers usually get through security quicker as they have less baggage. When picking a queue try to keep an eye out for business flyers.
Hold back the yawns
This is definitely another 'believe it or not' moment as the expert says that excessive yawning, whistling or even too much laughter has been reported as just a few reasons why you could be questioned by security, but of course it depends on the officer.
