Spain likely to be worst hit by Gatwick cuts

Those travelling to UK’S most popular holiday destination face cancelled flights, experts warn

‘It is inevitable that flights to Spain will be worst hit’

‘I had a meltdown. I was crying outside the airport out of stress’

HOLIDAYS to Spain and Portugal are set to be the worst hit by the Gatwick flight cap, experts fear.

The high volume of planned flights to the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and the Algarve mean they are most likely to be axed to meet the airport’s self-imposed reduction, putting the getaway plans of thousands of families in jeopardy.

Breakfast-time flights and those at weekends are at highest risk of being cancelled, as Gatwick tries to reduce chaos at its busiest times of the day.

The airport announced on Thursday that it would limit daily flights to 825 in July and 850 in August while it tried to address workforce shortages.

It means up to 4,000 flights will be cancelled.

Yesterday, Downing Street welcomed Gatwick’s decision “so they can realistically deliver over the summer”, rather than impose last-minute cancellations.

The Government is encouraging all airports to review the feasibility of their flight schedules.

Heathrow has already ordered airlines to cut the number of passengers flying at certain times of the day by a third this month. However Manchester and Stansted have signalled they will not be imposing any cap. The chaos is mainly due to the delay in rehiring airport staff, ranging from check-in to baggage handlers, who were laid off during the pandemic.

Paul Charles, chief executive of the travel consultancy PC Agency, said: “It’s inevitable flights to Spain will be the worst hit.

“It’s very frustrating for consumers. The pressure is now on Gatwick and the airlines to cancel these flights urgently because airlines will be wanting to reduce the compensation.

“If they give over two weeks’ notice they don’t have to pay compensation.”

Mr Charles said flights to Portugal and the South of France, namely Nice and Marseille, were also high-risk.

He added: “Gatwick will be talking to the airlines and saying we’ve got to reduce flights at the busiest times of day.

“That’s between 6am and 9am – also at weekends, the changeover days.”

It came as some airports saw another day of disruption with passengers missing flights due to the congestion.

Nicole Venglovicova missed three flights from Belfast to Heathrow and said she was concerned she would not be paid a refund of approximately £500.

“I had a meltdown, I was crying outside the airport out of stress,” the 31-year-old said.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “We want everybody to be able to travel freely and easily, which is why we continue to encourage industry to step up their recruitment so they can put enough flights for families who are looking forward to well-deserved holidays after the pandemic.”

Paul Scully, a business minister, earlier suggested that one solution to the chaos is to allow airport staff to work longer hours.

He told Sky News: “We want to work really closely with the airports and the airlines to make sure that they are doing everything they can and see what more we can do.”

Asked whether this meant people working longer hours, he said: “I’m not talking about going out forcing people to do anything, but we just want to make sure that they’re matched up properly so that it’s just that those people who can work longer – that want to work longer – can do.”