The summer of 2023 started well for airlines, after a tumultuous few years following COVID lockdowns in most countries. Passenger numbers were up 30% in the northern hemisphere in June 2023, versus the previous year. But air travel in July and August has been disrupted once again, not only by air traffic control strikes, but also by devastating wildfires in typical tourist hot spots such as Greece, Maui, Tenerife and Canada.
The latest problem – a UK air traffic control fault – has left thousands of passengers stranded after more than one-quarter of UK flights were cancelled on one of the busiest travel days of the year. It will take days to resolve, according to the UK transport secretary, Mark Harper.
