Christmas travel warning – Brits face huge queues and cancelled flights due to strike action and restrictions | The Sun

BRITS are being warned of travel chaos this Christmas due to potential strikes and flight caps.

Many families will be heading abroad this winter for a festive break abroad.

But Heathrow Airport has warned that they could introduce another restriction on flights this winter.

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, this could be reintroduced during the busy winter season, which would result in a number of flights being cancelled.

A spokesperson for the airport said: "We are working with airlines to agree a highly targeted mechanism that, if needed, would align supply and demand on a small number of peak days in the lead up to Christmas. 

Read more travel stories

I’ve flown 22 million miles – here’s how to get better service on flights

I had to sleep on airport floor for 2 nights because Ryanair delayed my flight

“This would encourage demand into less busy periods, protecting the heavier peaks, and avoiding flight cancellations due to resource pressures.”

Heathrow reported a nine-month loss of £442million pounds and warned it was unlikely to return to pre-pandemic demand for several years.

During September, Heathrow said 5.8 million passengers passed through the airport, 15 per cent below levels seen in 2019.

Airlines have also been forced to cancel flights during the winter season as well.

Most read in News Travel

BRITISH CAREWAYS

British Airways fly passenger's lost passport to London in time for flight

SMARTY PANTS

How to get a week's worth of clothes into a Ryanair under-the-seat bag

LAST RESORT

I worked at an all inclusive hotel & we'd get in trouble for doing basic things

IN THE BAG

I'm a baggage handler – the massive mistake people make when checking in luggage

In August, British Airways confirmed they were cutting daily flights until next year.

Around 10,000 routes to and from the UK have been cut, affecting as many as two million passengers until March 2023.

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.

And Border Force officers are threatening to strike over Christmas, which would result in huge queues at both airports and the Dover border.

According to the Telegraph, the ISU union, which represents 3,500 Border Force agents, is balloting to strike due to a dispute over pay rises, with the union rejecting the Home Office's three per cent.

It is just the third time a strike has been put forward, with other strikes taking place in 1984 and 2012.

The union has said it will not take any action that could jeopardise national security.

Read More on The Sun

Joey Essex breaks silence after kissing Maura Higgins & leaving bash together

I have big boobs – my genius hack will stop your button-downs from gaping

Effectively, this means checks will continue at UK borders but they could take longer, leading to huge queues as people try to get away for a Christmas break.

A Home Office spokesperson said they would "ensure passengers and goods can cross the border as smoothly as possible, and will do so in the event of any industrial action".

Source: Read Full Article

Previous post Trump said he had 'good chemistry' Kim Jong Un, new audiobook claims
Next post Popular flavour Quality Street axed in 2018 is back – but there’s a catch | The Sun