Low-cost airline easyJet is cutting more flights in the busy summer period due to staff shortages and flight caps at major airports.
EasyJet has already cancelled hundreds of flights overall in the last couple of months due to reasons ranging from IT failures to staffing issues.
The budget airline has been hit by Covid-19 absences and a huge cutback of flights at airports like Gatwick, which is also affecting rivals like British Airways and TUI.
The airline said it will only be running at 87% of its normal 2019 levels by the end of June, rising to 90% by the end of Sepetember.
Last month a mum was left "heartbroken" after easyJet cancelled her family's flights, forcing them to travel hundreds of miles - only for the second replacement flight to be axed.
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EasyJet has also left thousands of would-be holidaymakers searching for last-minute deals after it cancelled all flights to Hurghada for two months.
One couple told the Mirror how they were stuck there for an extra 11 days after three of their flights were cancelled.
Now EasyJet says it wants to “build additional resilience” as airlines across Europe are experiencing “operational issues”.
These include air traffic control delays, staff shortages in ground handling and at airports, and increased times for identity checks of new recruits.
EasyJet said: “In response to these caps and in order to build additional resilience, easyJet is proactively consolidating a number of flights across affected airports.
“This provides customers with advance notice and the potential to rebook on to alternative flights.”
The airline said it expects to be able to rebook “the majority” of passengers on to other departures, with “many being on the same day”.
Gatwick is limiting its number of daily flights in July and August to help tackle issues over staffing after a number of last-minute cancellations caused havoc for holidaymakers.
A limit on flights has also been introduced by Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.
Gatwick airport, the UK's second busiest, will limit daily take-offs and landings to 825 in July and 850 in August after the decision was taken following a review of its operations.
On the busiest days, airlines will be told to cancel up to 50 flights – requiring thousands of passengers already booked on them to find alternative departures.
Airport Coordination Ltd, the body that assigns take-off and landing “slots” at Gatwick and other hubs, will stipulate the number of cancellations that each airline must make.
Airports have had chaotic scenes for weeks as they struggle to cope with staff sickness due to Covid-19.
Airlines and airports are being hit by shortages with staff illness, including people testing positive for Covid and staying home.
For airports, there are staff shortages across everyone from airport security staff to ground handlers, which in itself slows down the process and creates delays.
However, it's not just illness causing shortages. The travel industry was devastated during the pandemic, leading to mass redundancies - now those effects are being felt.
Last week The Mirror reported that British holidaymakers booked on Ryanair flights could have their holidays scuppered if planned strikes go ahead.
Ryanair's Spanish cabin staff say they could strike for six days in late June and early July.
The staff will walk out on June 24, 25, 26 and 30 and on July 1 and 2, as they are discontent with working conditions and pay, USO union said.
