British Airways cancels thousands of flights through the month of July
Britain’s biggest airline told airport slot authorities that it was cancelling more than 650 flights from Heathrow and Gatwick in a bid to avoid repeating last month’s overcrowding and chaos, according to The Telegraph.
“As the entire aviation industry continues to face into the most challenging period in its history, regrettably it has become necessary to make some further reductions.”
BRITISH AIRWAYS SPOKESPERSON
Airlines and airports across Britain are dealing with a staffing crunch.
Layoffs and redundancies made during the pandemic have come back to bite air operators as demand for air travel surges.
On Monday, EasyJet’s Chief Operations Officer, Peter Bellew, resigned from his post amid thousands of cancellations in June.
An EasyJet spokesperson said that Mr Bellew had “resigned to pursue other business opportunities”.
On Sunday, footage emerged of an EasyJet flight being escorted by a Spanish Air Force jet.
@easyJet #a319 G-EZAO intercepted by Spanish Air Force on way to Menorca. passengers not being allowed to leave yet. @BigJetTVLIVE @BBCNews @SkyNews @SkyNewsBreak pic.twitter.com/MTWkQnU39x
— Ian Leslie (@iandrleslie) July 3, 2022
Spanish authorities said it was in response to a bomb threat, which later turned out to be a hoax.
The EasyJet flight from London Gatwick to Menorca landed without incident.
Passengers were screened one by one and bomb disposal experts checked all luggage.
Spanish authorities said an 18-year-old British man had posted the bomb threat to his social media page and was detained.
An EasyJet spokesperson thanked passengers for their understanding but did not go into further details.
