Cancelled flights today - live: Passengers ‘in tears’ as thousands face travel chaos

Will the travel chaos be over in time for our summer break?

Our travel correspondent, Simon Calder, answered questions from worried holidaymakers eager to know whether ongoing disruptions will continue into the summer.

Read the responses below:

Thomas Kingsley7 June 2022 15:49

Watch: South Africans express outrage after Ryanair asks passengers to do Afrikaans test

Thomas Kingsley7 June 2022 14:58

Virgin Atlantic loosens staff restrictions on tattoos

Virgin Atlantic has loosened restrictions on tattoos amid shortages causing travel chaos across the UK.

Previously, Virgin Atlantic staff were not allowed to have visible tattoos, however the airline has announced it is now changing this policy.

“Virgin Atlantic’s chief people officer, Estelle Hollingsworth, said restrictions were being relaxed ‘in line with our focus on inclusion and championing individuality.”

She added: “At Virgin Atlantic, we want everyone to be themselves and know that they belong. Many people use tattoos to express their unique identities and our customer-facing and uniformed colleagues should not be excluded from doing so if they choose.”

The change may increase applications for steward and baggage collection jobs that are in high supply.

Thomas Kingsley7 June 2022 14:25

How passengers are reacting to delays

Frustrated passengers are taking to social media to express their anger at flight cancellations and delays. Here are a few from Twitter:

Thomas Kingsley7 June 2022 13:57

Is Brexit causing the flight cancellation crisis?

The government is under mounting pressure to add aviation jobs to its Shortage Occupations list – reducing hurdles for EU workers to help fill gaps at overstretched airports and airlines.

On Tuesday alone British Airways cancelled almost 120 flights to and from Heathrow, while easyJet has so far grounded 60 departures to, from and within the UK – affecting an estimated 10,000 passengers.

Meanwhile the government insists that airlines and airports are to blame, and says Brexit provides huge benefits for UK air passengers.

Here, Simon Calder takes a look whether Brexit is behind the chaos:

Katy Clifton7 June 2022 13:30

What to do if your flight is cancelled?

Dozens of flights are being cancelled by airlines each day due to staff shortages and absences due to sickness.

British Airways, EasyJet and Tui have all made the decision to cut back their summer schedules, with most routes being cancelled in advance and passengers notified.

The airlines say this will allow them to operate more efficiently and reduce the risk of last-minute cancellations.

However, some cancellations are continuing day to day, at the last minute - with some passengers reporting having their flights cancelled after they’d arrived to the gate or even boarded their plane.

Read the full story below for how travellers can respond:

Thomas Kingsley7 June 2022 13:00

ICYMI: Disabled woman left on plane for 90 minutes after Gatwick staff failed to show

Amid the disruption at airports, was the case of Victoria Brignell, a woman paralysed from the neck down, who was left stranded on a plane for more than 90 minutes after airport staff failed to arrive.

Victoria Brignell, from Shepherd’s Bush, west London, was returning home on Saturday following a holiday in Malta when her plane arrived at Gatwick Airport, West Sussex.

Airport staff have a responsibility to help people with disabilities on and off planes – and Gatwick Airport has offered its sincere apologies and described the delay as “unacceptable”.

Read the full story below:

Thomas Kingsley7 June 2022 12:45

Diego Garcia Rodriguez, 32, a Spanish national who lives Brighton, said passengers have been left in tears at Gatwick airport due to last-minute cancellations.

He told the PA news agency: "I'm flying from Gatwick to Barcelona and I was at the airport three hours before but almost didn't make it to board.

"The flight hasn't been delayed so far but I have seen lots of people whose flights have been cancelled, some crying and stressing out and they only got the news after having gone through the security control so they didn't know how to get out.

"There was no information and it was all very chaotic."

(PA Wire)

Thomas Kingsley7 June 2022 12:28

British Airways check-in and grounds staff begin voting on strike action

Hundreds of check-in and ground staff employed by British Airways at Heathrow began voting on strike action on Tuesday.

Members of the Unite and GMB unions are being balloted in a dispute over pay which could cause chaos at the UK’s busiest airport during the summer holiday period.

The ballot ends on 23 June with the result expected the same day.

Workers are seeking a strike because a ten per cent pay cut imposed on them during the pandemic has not been reinstated – despite bosses having their pre-covid pay rates reinstated, GMB has said.

Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer, said: “Staff at Heathrow have been verbally and physically abused by angry passengers after British Airways’ staff shortages and IT failures nearly brought the airport to a standstill.

“On top of that, they had their pay slashed during BA’s callous fire and rehire policy. Now they want that money back. Bosses have had it back. Heathrow ground and check in staff want to know why they haven’t had it too.

“Unrest is now starting to spread like wildfire to other groups of BA workers with many more now considering a vote to walk out.

“British Airways faces a gruelling summer of travel chaos if they won’t give these workers what’s rightfully theirs.”

Thomas Kingsley7 June 2022 12:13

Travel agents inundated with calls over summer holiday fears

Travel agents are being inundated with telephone calls from customers worried that their summer holidays will be disrupted as flight chaos continues.

Thousands more airline passengers saw their travel plans thrown into disarray on Tuesday as the sector struggles to cope with staff shortages.

Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, which represents independent travel agents, said its members are receiving "a significant number of calls" from concerned customers.

She told the PA news agency: "About 30 per cent of all calls that they're receiving now are from customers that are reading the headlines, have bookings for July and August in the school holidays, and they are worried."

Ms Bue-Said acknowledged that the situation is "hideous and disappointing" for passengers whose flights are being cancelled.

But she said travel agents are attempting to reassure customers that "in the vast majority of cases flights are departing and arriving".

She added: "We're trying to give a bit of perspective."

Thomas Kingsley7 June 2022 12:10

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