Travel blame game

The chaos at the airports shows no sign of abating. On Tuesday, easyjet cancelled 60 flights, many of them at the last minute, leaving holidaymakers stranded across Europe. Many are families unable to get back after the school holidays with children who are due to sit their GCSE exams.

Wizz Air and British Airways have also had problems, albeit less severe, with flights to and from Gatwick Airport particularly difficult. An estimated 10,000 passengers are affected, including some who are still trying to get home from Mediterranean islands such as Ibiza, Malta and Sicily. Many were being told they were stuck with no alternative, despite the fact that airlines are required to fly passengers whose flights are cancelled to their destinations as soon as possible, if necessary on other carriers. This is evidently being ignored. Meanwhile the blame game continues, with the airlines accusing the Government and ministers saying they are not responsible.

But, while the carriers have been selling journeys they must have known they would not be able to fulfil, the Government should now act. It can lower the regulatory barriers stopping the easy recruitment of new staff. Why is the airport industry not being given access to HM Revenue and Customs records to validate prospective recruits through tax records, rather than requiring aviation firms to call all previous employers to conduct security checks?

Talks about this have been going on for days but this is an emergency that needs a fast response. The problem is a shortage of staff at airports, in the cabins and handling bags. Instead of trading excuses the various parties need to sort it out.