Travel chaos has been reported at airports across the country over the last several days, but there could be even more mayhem in the coming weeks as TUI is set to cancel hundreds of flights next month scheduled to depart from Manchester Airport.
The airline has said it will be cancelling around 43 flights a week from today (May 31) until June 30, in a bid to stop further problems from occurring. It comes after thousands of passengers have recently endured hours of delays and check-in queues so long they've snaked around the outside of airports.
Last week EasyJet and TUI cancelled an abundance of flights, while British airways advised passengers to check in their luggage a day before their flight and to consider paying out for an overnight stay close to the airport. Over the weekend just gone, police officers were drafted into Manchester Airport to inform TUI travellers that their flights had been cancelled.
READ MORE: Flight delays and cancellation rules: Compensation and refunds airlines have to give you
According to Union Unite, which represents tens of thousands of aviation workers, travellers are now paying the price for “chronic staff shortages” caused by job cuts during the coronavirus pandemic, which could get worse over the summer if the 'industry doesn't act now'.
TUI's planned cancellations are expected to affect almost 200 flights that were all due to take off from Manchester Airport, causing yet more disruption for holidaymakers hoping for a trip abroad. However, as it stands, all other TUI flights are set to depart as normal.
In a statement the tour operator said: "We would like to apologise to our customers who have experienced flight delays and cancellations in recent days and understand that many of our customers have been looking forward to their holiday with us for a long time.
"Due to the amount of on-going disruption in our operation at Manchester Airport, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to cancel six flights a day (43 flights a week), from Tuesday 31st May until Thursday 30th June. All other airports in the UK are planned to operate as normal."
"We understand how disappointing this will be for those impacted; however, we believe this is necessary to provide stability and a better customer service at Manchester Airport." Customers affected by TUI's cancellations will be given a full refund, TUI says.
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The statement continues: "We will continue to work closely with all our airport partners and suppliers so we can provide the best possible holiday experience for our customers. Customers affected by the flight cancellations will receive a full refund for their holiday, as well as an extra gesture of goodwill.
"Customers impacted in the next 14 days will also receive information on how to apply for compensation in line with regulations. We would like to reassure our customers that we cancellations of this nature are extremely rare and would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.”
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