A perfect travel storm of staff shortages and soaring numbers of travellers will cause gridlock at airports in the UK and Spain in the coming weeks. Long queues are expected before boarding and after arrival ahead of the predicted big Easter getaway.
Recruitment issues and Covid-related staff absences are set to put operations at UK airports under further pressure, with long queues already reported in recent days at London Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham Airports. The Airport Operators Association (AOA) said its members had been trying to bring in employees to fill vacancies following job losses and staff departing to other industries during the pandemic.
AOA chief executive Karen Dee said passengers “may not have the experience they are used to” at peak times. She advised travellers to arrive early for flights due to longer check-in waits and has also urged people to make sure they have any Covid-related documents needed for their destination.
