After Frantic Friday, brace yourselves for a summer of chaos
» Motorways gridlocked » Airline and rail strikes
HOLIDAYMAKERS have been warned that Frantic Friday was just a taste of a coming summer of travel chaos by road, rail and air.
Downpours in the wake of the heatwave wreaked havoc on roads yesterday as millions scrambled to start getaways with term ending at most schools in England and Wales.
Driving conditions were particularly dangerous due to heavy rain on the M60 near Swinton, Greater Manchester.
There were an estimated 3.8 million leisure trips and the RAC said gridlock may continue over the weekend – with more than nine million car journeys by the end of tomorrow.
But summer’s biggest headache could come at airports, as staff shortages and strikes spark delays and cancellations.
Ryanair yesterday cancelled 24 flights between the UK and Ireland over a strike by pilots. Its cabin crew strike on Wednesday and Thursday next week.
The airline has axed 600 flights, affecting almost 50,000 customers flying from airports in Belgium, Portugal and Spain. The moves compound months of chaos caused by air traffic controller shortages in Europe and strikes by those in France.
Airline trade body A4E said 2018 was “shaping up to be one of the worst years ever”.
Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary said without action, “thousands more flights and millions of passengers will be disrupted, particularly in July and August”.
Some 2.5 million Brits will head overseas this weekend with 500,000 flying from Heathrow, 250,000 from Gatwick, 148,000 from Stansted and 88,000 from Luton. Around 160,000 will fly from Manchester and 67,500 from Birmingham.
A strike by workers at Luton airport due to begin yesterday was suspended. But Eurostar users face disruption in a 24-hour strike at St Pancras International next Saturday.
Those staying here face thunderstorms and flash floods. But by the end of next week, the South East could hit 35C.
2.5m Number of British holidaymakers heading abroad this weekend.