Heathrow disruption to last until November

Operators will face legal action unless they cut numbers, says airport as it struggles with fewer staff

Curbs on holiday flights from Heathrow are likely to continue until after the October half-term. Britain’s biggest airport has told airlines it would continue to limit outbound and inbound flights until Oct 29 because staff shortages and absences have left its ground handling staff operating at 70 per cent of 2019 levels. The move threatens further flight cancellations into autumn as the aviation industry struggles to reimpose “normal” pre-covid schedules.

CURBS on holiday flights from Heathrow are likely to continue until after the October half-term.

Britain’s biggest airport has told airlines it will continue to limit outbound and inbound flights until Oct 29 because staff shortages and absences have left its ground handling staff operating at 70 per cent of 2019 levels.

The move threatens further flight cancellations into autumn as the aviation industry struggles to reimpose “normal” pre-covid schedules.

Heathrow has also warned airlines it will take legal action against any that refuse to reduce capacity as part of its legal duty to maintain “safe and resilient” travel for passengers, it emerged yesterday. It follows the airport’s decision last week to impose a daily cap of 100,000 departing passengers even though airlines cancelled dozens of flights under a slots amnesty.

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy the PC Agency, said: “These further limits on flight numbers will lead many to question why Heathrow is unable to get a grip on its staffing crisis before October, at the earliest.”

A letter seen by The Daily Telegraph shows that the airport will cap the total number of outbound and inbound flights (or movements) at 1,100 from July 11 to Aug 31; 1,150 from Sept 1 to Sept 30; and 1,200 from Oct 1 to Oct 29. Before Covid, Heathrow had 1,350 movements a day. The airport has put in place “contingency” measures to prevent “dangerous” overcrowding that could risk the safety of passengers.

Mark Powell, Heathrow’s director of operational planning, told airlines “higher absence levels and reliance upon overtime across Heathrow” meant there was “volatility in resourcing levels, impacting resilience, safety, passenger experience and performance”.

Heathrow has warned some airlines that they could face “restricted usage or no further usage of the airport” if they do not cancel flights. An airport source said: “There are legal routes we can use. As part of their licence to operate, airlines need to run a safe and resilient schedule.”

Meanwhile, refuelling strikes at the airport are expected to ruin the plans of tens of thousands of passengers this week.

Staff who work for companies refuelling Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Delta and KLM services are to walk out for three days starting tomorrow.