London’s Gatwick caps summer flight numbers over staff shortages

London’s Gatwick Airport saidFriday will be the last day of summer flights. travelSeason due to continuing labour shortages. This will force airlines cancellations of some flights.

The second-largest airport in Britain will limit flights to 825 per day in July, and 850 in august. This is in an effort to avoid chaos and reduce the number of cancellations by airlines. saidThis happens after a rapid rise in air traffic.

On peak August days, Gatwick typically operates around 900 flights.

Europe’s airports have been affected by logistics and labour issues. travelThe economy exploded following the release of COVID-19 lockdowns. British airports were particularly affected by chaos during the half-term holiday for schools that coincided with the Platinum Jubilee holiday weekend.

Easyjet and Lufthansa Airlines have already announced plans to cut flights this summer.

“It is evident that during the Jubilee Week, a number of businesses operating at the airport struggled in special, due to staff shortages,” Stewart Wingate (Gatwick’s chief executive), said. saidIn a statement

Wingate saidThis decision will allow airlines and passengers to plan ahead and avoid cancellations last-minute.

Grant Shapps, Britain’s transport secretary, ordered airlines to stop selling tickets for flights that they couldn’t staff after a series of cancellations. 

(Reporting by Mrinmay dey and Akriti Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing: Leslie Adler