As you may have heard, many airports across the UK are experiencing severe disruption at the moment. This has been blamed on staff absences due to covid.
Even though the legal requirement to self-isolate has ended, many employers are still asking their staff to remain away from work while testing positive. That's before you consider the number of people who feel too unwell to work.
And the covid-19 case rate is now at an all-time high in the UK, despite - or perhaps because of - free testing having now ended for most people. As a result of all that, multiple airlines, including Jet2, Easyjet, and British Airways, are cancelling services as they don't have the staff to run them.
Read more - Easyjet cancellations: what to do if your flight gets cancelled
In response, Bristol Airport is advising travellers to "plan ahead". A spokesperson told Bristol Live: "As we are approaching the busy summer season, we are advising customers to arrive in the terminal at least two hours before flight departure and if parking their car in Silver Zone to arrive 2.5 hours prior to flight departure - this advice reflects a busy terminal. We are advising customers to plan ahead and be prepared at security."
This advice is particularly important over the Easter period, during which the airport expects to be at its busiest since the start of the pandemic, with some 300,000 people expected to pass through between April 9 and 24. It advised people travelling over Easter to "check with their airline and to arrive at least a minimum of 2 hours prior to their scheduled departure time".
To help ease the security check process, the airport also advises passengers to:
- Have your boarding card ready
- Remove laptop computers and other large electrical devices
- Place liquids in separate liquids bags
- Empty your pockets into the trays provided
- Take off your jacket and/or coat
Graeme Gamble, Bristol Airport's chief operating officer, said: “Following the end of all covid-19 travel measures, we are anticipating a strong increase in passenger numbers over the Easter period. We know there is a huge pent-up demand for travel which has built up over the past two years during the pandemic."
"The increase in passenger numbers this Easter demonstrates the continued customer confidence in travelling abroad. Whilst recruiting new colleagues for the airport can take time, the Bristol Airport team and business partners will be working hard to ensure all customers have a smooth and easy journey through our terminal.
"We strongly advise for all customers to arrive at check-in at least a minimum of two hours prior to their scheduled departure time. The airport has been working hard over the winter season to prepare for the spring and summer season with various ongoing development projects in the terminal which are due to be completed over the coming weeks and months.
"The work includes a £2.6million investment in the enhancements of the commercial amenities in the departure lounge to provide a greater experience for customers before boarding their flights.”
