Passengers are set to face some travel problems as they try to head off for their summer getaways despite further flight cancellations aimed at helping ease disruption, according to a former British Airways chief executive. Willie Walsh, who is now the director general of the International Air Transport Association, also believes surging oil prices will mean “flying will be more expensive for consumers, without doubt.”
Earlier this week British Airways announced it is to cancel hundreds more summer flights as previous schedule cuts aimed at easing disruption proved insufficient. The airline said in a statement that it had “regrettably” become necessary to further reduce its operations. Tens of thousands of passengers will be affected by the move to cancel flights at Heathrow and Gatwick.
Mr Walsh told Sunday Morning With Sophie Raworth: “I think that it is right that these cancellations are made early because that will allow airlines and their customers to adapt to the revised schedules. I actually expect people to be able to get away. I think there will be some disruption but I don’t think it will be on the scale we have seen to date. I believe that there are solutions that have been put in place.”
