HEATHROW Airport has threatened to introduce more flight caps this winter – meaning more cancellations.
The London Airport currently has a flight cap in place of 100,000 passengers a day, which is set to be lifted at the end of the month.
However, it has warned they could be brought back during the Christmas period, with the Telegraph reporting a proposed "seat factor cap".
While they expect a busy season during the Christmas period, they warned travel was still "uncertain," citing "economic headwinds, a new wave of Covid, and the escalating situation in Ukraine".
Heathrow also said that passenger caps could still be brought back on busy winter days due to staff shortages during the peak demand.
Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said in a statement: "While we face many economic headwinds, as well as the legacy of COVID, our aim is to get back to full capacity."
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In an additional statement, Heathrow said it was "discussing with airlines a number of more targeted options to proactively manage peak demand days over winter if needed".
During September, Heathrow said 5.8 million passengers passed through the airport, 15 per cent below levels seen in 2019.
The recovery in passenger numbers, from lows last year when there were fewer travellers at the airport than in the 1970s, was limited by Heathrow's self-imposed cap on daily passenger departures imposed in July.
The airport sparked outrage during the summer by introducing a passenger cap which caused chaos for thousands of holidaymakers.
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At the time, the company said the move would result in "fewer last-minute cancellations, better punctuality and shorter waits for bags".
Airlines have also been forced to cancel flights during the winter season.
In August, British Airways confirmed they were cutting daily flights until next year.
Around 10,000 routes have been cut to and from the UK this winter, affecting as many as two million passengers until March 2023.
This includes both short haul and long haul flights, with longer routes to destinations across Asia being cut due to ongoing Covid restrictions still in place.
The airline said that passengers will be told in advance if their flights are cancelled, and will be rebooked or offered a full refund.
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Wizz Air confirmed that nearly all flights from Cardiff Airport will be cancelled for the next six months, citing "economic pressures".
And UK airline Loganair – the largest regional airline in the country – confirmed that 300 flights are being scrapped between November 2022 and March 2023.
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