Gatwick reduces summer flight numbers

HOLIDAYMAKERS flying from Gatwick this summer are to have their travel plans disrupted as the airport imposes restrictions on the number of flights for the first time in its history.

In a move designed to mitigate further travel chaos this summer, the West Sussex airport will limit daily flights to 825 in July and 850 in August. Ordinarily, up to 900 flights take-off and land at the airport then.

The restrictions mean as many as 4,000 flights will be cancelled at Britain’s second-busiest airport, hitting the plans of an estimated 800,000 people.

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick’s chief executive, said that the cap was designed to combat high numbers of same-day cancellations by airlines.

Gatwick agreed the restrictions with airlines such as easyjet, Wizz Air and British Airways and Mr Wingate said that passengers on cancelled flights would be rebooked on other flights.

“We have put a heck of a lot of effort into getting ready for the summer period,” he said. “[But] the rebound is happening faster at Gatwick than any other European airport.”

“It is clear that during the Jubilee week a number of companies operating at the airport struggled … because of staff shortages. By taking decisive action now, we aim to help the ground handlers – and also our airlines – to better match their flying programmes with their available resources.”

There was chaos at Gatwick over the Jubilee bank holiday as passengers were hit by last-minute cancellations and widespread disruption. The airport has also been struggling with absences among air traffic controller staff.

The return of overseas travel after two years of Covid restrictions has been marred by chaotic scenes at airports. Long queues stretching out of terminal buildings were commonplace during the Easter holidays and recent half-term break.

Airlines have been forced to cancel hundreds of flights as they grapple with staff shortages. Grant Shapps, the

Transport Secretary, has criticised the aviation industry for failing to “gear up” for the summer season and has previously accused airlines of selling seats on flights that they knew they would not have the capacity to operate.

Aviation leaders, however, say they told the Government about the impending chaos in January but their warnings fell on deaf ears.

Flights that are not feasible should be cancelled at the earliest opportunity, the officials said, in a further blow to British holidaymakers facing a summer of travel chaos.

Rannia Leontaridi, head of aviation at DFT, and Richard Moriarty, chief executive of the CAA, added that there would be “unavoidable cancellations” in the weeks and months ahead.

Airlines were told: “Your schedules must be based on the resources you and your contractors expect to have available, and should be resilient for the unplanned and inevitable operational challenges that you will face.

“While cancellations at any time are a regrettable inconvenience to passengers, it is our view that cancellations at the earliest possibility to deliver a more

‘The steps taken today mean that our passengers can expect a more reliable and better standard of service’

robust schedule are better for consum- ers than on-the-day cancellations.”

Mr Wingate said: “The steps taken today mean that our passengers can expect a more reliable and better standard of service, while also improving conditions for staff working at the airport.”

‹ A disabled passenger died after falling down an escalator at Gatwick on Wednesday. The unnamed man had been waiting for assistance to disembark an easyjet flight, it was claimed. But he became frustrated, The Sun reports, and left the plane on his own, entering the North Terminal.

An easyjet spokesman said: “A number of our cabin crew provided medical assistance to a passenger at Gatwick whilst waiting for paramedics, however the passenger sadly passed away.” Easyjet claimed the airport has responsibility for providing special assistance.